Clint Eastwood has been acting for over 70 years now, so there are, most likely, plenty of his films that you haven’t seen yet. One of his lesser-seen films is the 2002 mystery thriller Blood Work, which he also directed and produced. If you missed out on this one like many people did when it came out, you can rent it on VOD through Apple TV, Amazon Video, and a few other services.
Hunting The Code Killer
Blood Work stars Clint Eastwood as FBI profiler Terry McCaleb, who is hunting a criminal known as “The Code Killer” when he has to quit the case due to a heart attack. After a heart transplant, Terry eventually discovers that his heart transplant donor was the victim of an unsolved murder, causing him to reopen the case. He won’t be doing it alone either, as his neighbor Buddy (Jeff Daniels) is also there to help him out.
Directed By Clint Eastwood
Clint Eastwood always gives a pretty great performance, and he has shown himself to be a very adept director as well over the years. Blood Work lets Eastwood bring both those skills to the table in a straightforward but competently-made thriller that’s worth the watch. Along with Eastwood and Daniels, the film also stars Jeff Daniels, Wanda De Jesus, and Angelica Huston, who all give solid performances as the supporting cast.
Mixed Reception
Blood Work didn’t exactly blow the doors off when it was released, failing at the box office with a $31.8 million box office gross against a budget of $50 million. Reviews of the film were also fairly mixed, as it currently holds a middling 54 percent score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes and 40 percent from audiences. Critic Scott Weinberg gave the film a fairly positive review, saying, “Blood Work is a lot like a well-made PB & J sandwich: familiar, fairly uneventful and boasting no real surprises – but still quite tasty and inviting all the same.”
Meanwhile, critic Peter Canavese had a more negative review of Blood Work, saying, “This vehicle—the cinematic equivalent of a supermarket paperback—plays like the best-ever episode of Matlock rather than a truly distinguished feature film.”
Both reviews are saying essentially the same thing, so it seems like your enjoyment of the film will depend on whether you appreciate a middle-of-the-road thriller or if you want something more memorable. Sometimes, a low-stakes watch that you know is decently made is just what the doctor ordered, and it looks like that’s what you’ll get with this film.
Don’t Think, Just Watch
Essentially, if you’re looking for a critically acclaimed film that will wow you, then Blood Work might not be for you. But if you’re looking for something to entertain you for a couple of hours that doesn’t require too much critical analysis, then it might be a good weekend watch. Clint Eastwood definitely has better movies out there based on what the reviews say, but it sounds like it’s not an outright bad movie.
Clint Eastwood Is Done Acting
Blood Work is also a chance to see Clint Eastwood act if you’re a fan and missed this movie since the legendary actor is now officially retired. He directed and produced his final film, Juror #2, which has yet to announce an official release date. The film has an all-star cast that includes Nicholas Hoult, Toni Collette, Zoey Deutch, Leslie Bibb, Chris Messina, J. K. Simmons, and Kiefer Sutherland, but you can check out Blood Work on Prime Video or Apple TV in the meantime.