There Will Be Blood
The brief
Paul Thomas Anderson builds this epic like a slowly tightening vise, letting Daniel Day-Lewis's oil prospector Daniel Plainview reveal his monstrous nature inch by calculating inch across nearly three hours that somehow fly by. Day-Lewis doesn't just inhabit this character - he becomes a force of pure capitalist evil, all oily charm masking bottomless greed and contempt for humanity. The film moves with the deliberate pace of molten lava, gorgeous and hypnotic until it suddenly burns everything in its path. Perfect for anyone who loves character studies that double as American nightmares, or thought The Godfather could use more oil derricks and religious mania.
The verdict
If you love deliberately paced character studies with powerhouse performances and don't mind nearly three hours of watching capitalism personified as pure evil, this is essential viewing that showcases Day-Lewis at his most terrifying. If you prefer faster-moving plots or need sympathetic characters to connect with, you'll find this slow-burning oil epic more punishing than rewarding.
Watch with
- 👤 Serious film buffs who appreciate deliberate pacing
- ⚠️ Those seeking lighter entertainment should avoid
Heads up
- Intense psychological manipulation and abuse (frequent)
- Religious fanaticism and exploitation (moderate)
- Brief but shocking violence including head trauma (moderate)
- Child in emotionally harmful situations (moderate)
Credits
- Director
- Paul Thomas Anderson
- Cast
- Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciarán Hinds, Dillon Freasier
We Reviewed This Film
Dive deeper into what makes this film special with our in-depth analysis.
Read Full ReviewOfficial synopsis
A story of family, religion, hatred, oil and madness, focusing on a turn-of-the-century prospector in the early
The Double
Make a night of it
Pair this with The Master (2012)
Anderson's dual character study explores obsession and psychological manipulation themes.
Total runtime: 2h 38m + 2h 17m = 4h 55m
