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A Coen-ography: The Films of Joel and Ethan Coen

BLOOD SIMPLE. (1984)
The Coens first hit the screen with a spattery, crimson splash. With this low-budget, sun-baked noir about an adulterous wife and a double-crossing detective, the brothers astonished critics right out of the box with their shocking use of violence, their instant mastery of the genre, and their playful but commanding use of the tools in their arsenal (gotta love that skittery camerawork). Their leading lady was an unknown actress named Frances McDormand, who would go on to marry Joel around the time of the film's release.