“Mary Beth and Priscilla Connolly attempt to cover up a gruesome run-in with a dangerous man. To conceal their crime, the sisters must go deep into the criminal underbelly of their hometown, uncovering the town’s darkest secrets.”

The Good

As a native “Mainer”, I thought it was pretty cool that Blow the man Down was filmed in the picturesque coastal Maine town of Harpswell, Maine. The story is set in fictional Easter Cove, Maine, which is a small fishing village. Filming took place among the three islands in Harpswell, all connected by bridges.

The film has a unique Fargo feel to it, which had me hooked from start to finish. The acting is spectacular, with the cast consisting of Morgan Saylor (White Girl), Sophie Lowe, June Squibb, and Margo Martindale. I am a HUGE June Squibb fan, who was in the recently released Hubie Halloween playing Adam Sandler’s mom. She is also great in the black and white comedy drama Nebraska. Margo Martindale, another one of my favorites, has been on my radar since her role in the FX series, Justified.

I really liked the blend of drama and dark humor, and the cinematography and score was easily two of my favorite elements - you could almost feel that cold ocean breeze and smell the freshly caught fish.

The Bad

Blow the Man Down can feel slow at times, but at just an hour and a half it is far from a lasting issue. I really like this style of film which is admittedly unique in its tone and delivery, so it could rub some people the wrong way who prefer more mainstream filmmaking. So yeah, not too much negative to report.

The Verdict

Blow the man Down is a well-crafted and extremely enjoyable film for a number of reasons, and even if it doesn’t end up being one of your favorites, it is still well worth a watch. Just carve out an hour and a half of your time and find a warm and comfy place in the couch, you won’t be disappointed. Fingers crossed we get more movies like this sooner rather than later. Recommended.