I love a good thriller and Blood Orange is no exception. It reminded me of the 1982 film Deathtrap starring Michael Caine, Christopher Reeve and Dyan Cannon in that every time you think you have the plot worked out, there is a new twist.
In a modern Spanish Villa lives Bill (Iggy Pop) an aging, half-blind rock star with his young, very beautiful and promiscuous wife Isabelle (Kacey Clarke). All seems idyllic until Lucas (Ben Lamb), an ex-lover arrives looking for revenge. Lucas wants his inheritance back from Isabelle after her marriage to his father. He believes she stole it from him, but Isabelle will give him nothing. Bill asks Lucas to stay, offering to make peace, but really he has another agenda – he has a plan…
In a devious game of cat and mouse, the hunter soon becomes the hunted and Lucas sees his plans crumbling. What unfolds is a dangerous, tangled web of deceit and destruction as he becomes a plaything in their deadly game.
There are some fine performances in this film notably that of Iggy Pop. He is the glue that holds the film together. With his stubble, gruff voice and haggard looks he gives a fine performance as a pop star who has seen better days but is the wiser for it.
Kacey Clarke and Ben Lamb more than hold their own in their respective roles, particularly Clarke. She is beautiful, manipulative and yet vulnerable at times. Lamb’s performance shows great restraint yet able to surprise us at the end of the film.
Antonio Magro completes the cast as the gardener/poolboy who is caught in Isabelle’s web of intrigue.
Special mention must be made of Toby Tobias who wrote and directed the film. It abounds with blood orange symbolism – the fruit itself, the colours of the desert and of course, the blood that is so generously spilt.
A very satisfying thriller with more twists and turns than Hampton Court maze.
Reviewed by Barry Hill
Twitter: @kinesguy
Rating out of 10: 9
Blood Orange will be released on DVD on 20 April 2016.
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