'Blow The Man Down' is an intriguing story revolving around Mary Beth and Priscilla Connolly, two sisters that have to deal with covering up a run-in with a dangerous man and along the way, uncover the dark secrets that their seemingly quiet and quaint small town holds.
After having recently lost their mother, we are introduced to Mary Beth and Priscilla, - two sisters coping with the loss of their mother and the responsibility that has been left behind for them, namely the family store and its debts. After it comes to light that they are at risk of losing the house, Mary Beth goes out and meets a man, Gorsky. The situation turns sour, and she ends up killing him in self defence. Confiding in Priscilla, the two decide to cover up the murder and dump his body in the ocean in a cooler.
Shortly after, a body is reported to be found in the water. It is not Gorsky however, and turns out to be a known prostitute, Dee. In the meanwhile, we are also introduced to a trio of elderly women, Susie, Gail and Doreen. The three friends, having been close with the Connolly's mother keep an eye out for the sisters. Additionally, they speak with one of Enid's workers, a prostitute in the town brothel run by Enid, in an attempt to foil the business.
In parallel to the Connolly's dealing with their troubles, the town's police force, Officer Coletti and newcomer Officer Brennan investigate Dee's case.
It slowly unfolds that the towns' bed and breakfast, as run by Enid, effectively functions as a brothel. Meanwhile, returning to the scene of the crime to look for a knife the sisters left behind, Mary Beth finds a bag with $50,000 in it. The sisters debate keeping the money, but are later confronted by Enid as she had recovered their lost knife. The parties agree to an exchange, money for the knife and later go to Enid's for the exchange. Once there, Enid attempts to give the girls some of the money, but they refuse in that they choose not to be tied up with Enid and her business.
As the sisters walk home after dealing with Enid, they see the neighbouring friends, Susie, Gail and Doreen out and about, rustling near their homes. As Mary Beth and Priscilla get closer, they realise the three had come across the cooler they used to dispose of the body in and are getting rid of the evidence.
'Blow The Man Down' is distinctive in its character, - it provides mystery and drama to tell the story of the Connolly sisters. With elements of deep personal revelations and dark moments of violence, the film seamlessly transitions from a sensible and true depiction of a range of human characters, traits and aspirations to dark and clandestine doings that operate within the small oceanside town.
The film carries a cast of different characters, all distinctive in their qualities and manages to tell its story without compromising and muddling the individual players together. The two sisters are unique in their approach to life. Priscilla is a calm and quiet woman, bearing the burden of the family business, yet content with her path in remaining in the town to run the shop. Mary Beth is different in that she wishes to leave her town behind, go to college and explore the world. With a more brazen approach to life, Mary Beth is bold in approaching and pursuing her needs, yet the two sisters come together in a time of uncertainty and reconcile their troubles through showcasing their deep bond and understand each other during their times of trouble.
'Blow The Man Down' not only presents a deep insight into the Connolly family dynamics, but it also manages to present an engrossing story about the darkness that hides within the small town. Without compromising its calm approach in tone to the story, the film reveals a gripping revelation, one after the other, about the decades long illicit activities that Enid has been hosting in the town. In conflict with the running of the brothel, the trio of ladies that oppose it and want to see it gone, Susie, Gail and Doreen are not presented as a purely outraged force acting to put an end to the illicit activities, but are revealed to have been in agreement to the running of it in the past. They muster up the courage and decide it is time to put a stop to the criminal activities after the passing of the Connolly's mother, seeing it as an opportunity where Enid will have no one to back her up and support the running of the business.
The film is a success in that it provides a multitude of threads, weaving together a strong story of personal drama and mystery, uncompromising in its presentation of a variety of characters, all distinct in their personalities, yet not over the top in some caricature form. With occasional interludes of fishermen singing sea shanties, the musical element functions well in providing moments of introspection and deeper thought following either moments of personal revelation or the discovery of an element linking together the towns conspiracy to overlook the running of the brothel.
Sophie Lowe portrays Priscilla, a calm and responsible individual that has taken on the responsibility of running the family business after her mothers passing. She reveals herself to be more nuanced however, after Mary Beth confides in her about having murdered Gorsky. Her decision to cover up the murder reveals the duality of her personality as she is an upstanding person on all fronts, yet reveals herself to be capable of a gruesome act in order to protect her sister. Lowe further provides detail to Priscilla as an interaction with Officer Brennan causes her to show a side previously unseen, namely the twitchy and nervous response she has over harbouring the secrets she and her sister hold.
Morgan Saylor plays Mary Beth, the brash and somewhat careless sister. Saylor presents Mary Beth as a young and somewhat stubborn person, but also manages to present her more sensitive side, as we learn of her desire to pursue higher education.
Margo Martindale plays Enid, the person who runs the town brothel. Martindale manages to convey a dark and heavy persona, showcasing it in how Enid runs the brothel, how she interacts with her workers and how she treats the town police officers. Her menacing presence adds an element of palpable danger, instilling fear in every scene that she is in. Towards the conclusion of the film, it is revealed that Enid feels shame about how her life has turned out, and manages to present it in a captivating manner, asking the viewer to sympathise with her, as she bears her soul to the two sisters. Through this moment of exposing her insecurities Martindale steals the scene and makes the viewer question their feelings towards her, as the woman's motivation has been to get by through running the business.
June Squibb, Annette O'Toole and Marceline Hugot portray Susie, Gail and Doreen respectively and they present a sort of force of benevolence. The trio are kind towards the Connelly sisters and are shown in discussion of wanting to redeem themselves regarding the town brothel. They are shown as kind ladies, yet the audience is allowed to peek behind the curtain and understand their past misdoings. As Squibb, O'Toole and Hugot interact, they provide a welcoming atmosphere and showcase a close bond that has been formed over a lifetime amongst the friends.
The film is written and directed by Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy. The two have managed to create a film that presents both a deep introspective into the personalities and family drama surrounding the Connolly's with an outlandish freak incident that the two have to cope with. Through developing a variety of characters and allowing enough time for the audience to understand their motivations, the suspense of the film is increased as we have formed a connection with all the players to some extent. At the centre of the film are the two sisters and Enid however, and the struggle between the parties remains intriguing until the conclusion of the story as we discover the characters innermost wants and what they are capable of in order to protect what they cherish.
'Blow The Man Down' presents seemingly contrasting genres of film, mystery and drama, yet manages to bind the two together effortlessly, with both sides of the film complimenting one another and amplifying the motivations and drives of the characters operating on all fronts. The film is a success in delivering a gripping story that benefits from an excellent cast that uphold and strengthen the progression of the story.
Score: 4/4
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