A Fever in the Blood (Short)
When I saw that “A Fever in the Blood” was a short film inspired by a story from Ethan Coen, of Coen Brothers fame, I had…some idea of what to expect in tone. But the Coens are tricky critters, whether both of their names are on a work or not, and “A Fever in the Blood,” though adapted and directed by Andrew Pulver rather than the Brothers themselves, is certainly no exception.
The film begins with a private detective (Martin McDougall) working a case. We don’t really know what case it is, but it abruptly ends when an assailant, who is a member of a local crime family, bites off the private dick’s ear, and winds up dead for it. Cut to a hospital room, and Victor Shapiro (the PI) can’t hear. Yes, he only lost one ear in the attack, but he’s told by doctors that he’s having a psychological reaction that has resulted in deafness. They recommend a therapist, but that doesn’t work out, so Shapiro goes back to his office, and waits. As he finds out, though, when a woman comes barreling in, telling him about her issues, and he hasn’t disclosed his affliction, he’s going to have to find a way to market himself better. That’s when a blind man comes in. Pulver accentuates all of the traditional Coen wit and absurdity in his script and sharp direction, while his cast (led by a very funny McDougall) just runs with it, making the most of every moment. It’s only 12 minutes, but it’s a delightful dozen minutes of silliness that fits perfectly with what we’ve come to expect from two of the most distinctive voices in modern cinema, even though neither of them wrote the script or directed the film. That makes Pulver’s accomplishment that much more impressive.
A Fever in the Blood from feverinthe blood on Vimeo.
