It’s Big Little Lies meets Fargo in the indie film Blow the Man Down, a unique musical noir now streaming on Amazon Prime.

Writer/directors Bridget Savage Cole and Danielle Krudy creatively combine Shakespearean-like musical moments with cold-blooded murder in this humble drama, which currently sits at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes (as of noon today). Anchored by strong performances from its stacked cast, Blow the Man Down is a great choice if you are looking for a cinematic escape which, let’s face it, we could all use right about now.

Two sisters from the small town of Easter Cove, Maine are blindsided after the death of their mother and overwhelmed with unexpected bills and responsibilities. Burying one body is hard enough, and neither Mary Beth (Morgan Saylor) nor Priscilla Connolly (Sophie Lowe) could have foreseen having to not just bury, but also conceal, the death of another, after encountering a shady guy at a bar and declining his sexual advances. Fearing for her life, Mary Beth brutally takes him out with a weapon that is ironically readily available in their small fishing town: a harpoon. Enlisting help from her sister to dispose of the body, the duo questions whether or not they’ve successfully covered their tracks as police, neighbors and more begin to investigate.

Blow the Man Down is full of secrets, heightened by the surreal elements. Similar to the Icelandic eco-drama Woman at War, a choir of fisherman acting as Shakespearean muses interject old-time chants and songs between scenes, signaling ominous times ahead. Saylor and Lowe create compelling tension and combined with performances from veterans Margo Martindale and June Squibb, their collective efforts make this female-focused dark comedy an enthralling watch.

BLOW THE MAN DOWN (2020)

Starring Morgan Saylor, Sophie Lowe, Margo Martindale

Directed by Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy

Written by Bridget Savage Cole, Danielle Krudy

Distributed by Amazon Studios. 90 minutes.