Now, there are quite a few Maine-set movies out there, but again, it’s rare for them to actually be shot here. Reed, outnumbered and outgunned, must battle his way through his physical and emotional pain if he’s going to have any chance of survival.
What follows is a brutal game of cat-and-mouse through the snow-covered woods. Unfortunately for them, however, the spoils of their heist – a duffel bag packed with cash – winds up in Jim’s hands … and they are not interested in negotiating. It seems that a group of murderous thieves – casino robbers – have also made their way into these woods, ostensibly in an effort to escape capture. While out hunting, he winds up stumbling into the middle of something incredibly dangerous. His social interactions are limited the closest he comes to what you might call friends are Bill (Paul Ben-Victor, “The Banker”), an attendant at one of the woods entry gates, and Debbie (Kristen Hager, “The Turkey Bowl”), a waitress at Jim’s preferred diner in town.Īlas, the quiet of Reed’s world is about to be upended. Reed basically lives in his camper and spends most of his days in the wood, hoping to land a buck. Bitten hard by the bottle, he’s clean and sober, though it isn’t easy – especially since he’s also dealing with some significant health issues. He’s a man haunted by his past, tortured by memories of tragedies that befell his family. His stoic quietude matches the looming intensity of the winter forest through which he makes his way it’s a good match, one that is served well by the gentle pacing of the narrative and the sere serenity of the setting.īerenger is Jim Reed, a retired veteran who has been making regular hunting treks into the northern Maine woods for years. Tom Berenger stars, bringing his well-earned gravitas to almost every single frame of the film. The thriller – also written by Barr – takes advantage of the verdant and untamed forests found in the norther parts of the state, constructing a tale of taut tension about a lone man battling his demons and fighting for his life. The Maine native and film industry veteran has made his directorial debut with “Blood and Money,” set and filmed in Maine and available on VOD on May 15. Of course, there are a number of reasons we don’t see movies made here – some economic, some logistical – but even so, you’d expect a little more frequency, though the truth is that many people may simply not understand the true breadth of opportunity here. It’s surprising, really – in a state with an abundant variety of natural beauty ranging from coastlines to mountains to forests, you’d think more filmmakers would take advantage.