Three men sit in a bar playing poker. Another man enters and acts suspiciously enough to make the others uncomfortable. After a tense confrontation that nearly erupts in violence, the three poker players manage to evict the newcomer. However, this is not the end. The exiled man returns to the bar, this time with a gun in his hand, and kills all three men. This opening act of violence in “Sweet Virginia” sets the tone for the film: an engaging fusion of noir and western that reminds viewers of the Coen Brothers’ “No Country For Old Men,” while still achieving originality.

Every resident of the small, unnamed Alaskan town that serves as the film’s setting is affected by the murders. Yet, those related to the murder victims have reasons not to be mournful. Bernadette (Rosemarie DeWitt), the wife of one of the victims, had a loveless marriage that was complicated by her affair with Sam (Jon Bernthal). Lila, the wife of another victim, was actually involved in the murder.

More cannot be said of the plot without giving it away, but viewers should take comfort in knowing that every character’s intentions become apparent over the course of the film and all loose ends are tied up by the film’s climax. Director Jamie Dagg constructed “Sweet Virginia” meticulously, by choosing precisely which pieces of information to disclose and which to keep secret. The murder that opens the film seems wanton at first, though the motivations of the killer, named Elwood (Christopher Abbott), steadily become visible and increasingly complex.

The film’s connection to “No Country For Old Men” is most evident in the personality of the killer played by Abbott — he is almost immediately identifiable with Anton Chigurh, the antagonist of “No Country for Old Men”. Like Chigurh, Elwood is unpredictable, extremely violent and highly apathetic. However, unlike Chigurh, Elwood is known to have a troubled past, and this contributes to, as well as complicates, the viewer’s understanding of him. As the film progresses, it is clear that his motivations are not as psychopathic as they initially seemed, and that he is as much a victim of circumstances as any of the men he shot.

While Chigurh doesn’t appear to be interested in human connection, Elwood seems to actively seek it out. While staying at the motel Sweet Virginia, he befriends Sam, who, alongside being romantically involved with Bernadette, also runs the establishment that is responsible for the film’s name. Sam is originally from Virginia, but has moved to Alaska in an attempt to start a new life. Elwood shares Sam’s Virginian roots, but ended up in Alaska in order to escape his past. Given their similar circumstances, Sam and Elwood’s friendship is unsurprising, though viewers cannot be sure how long their camaraderie will last.

“Sweet Virginia” is fueled by unbreakable tension and echoes the styles of its western and noir predecessors. Though the details of the plot remain hidden from viewers, this secrecy should entice audiences to indulge their curiosity and discover the culmination of Sam and Elwood’s friendship which is ultimately rooted in violence.

“Sweet Virginia” opens in New York theaters on Friday, Nov. 17.

Email Ali Hassan at [email protected].