Review of Green Room (2016) by Rob R — 13 Jul 2016

I felt like the expectations for Green Room was a little high, thinking it would be a better stand out for a horror thriller film. The cinematography and the slow suspense build up did leave it for a let down, when they create the suspense and doesn't go anywhere from there. We have a group of 20 something's in a punk band, getting a gig in a middle of a nowhere forest in Portland. In a club, were neo-Nazi skinheads hang out. When someone from the band, witnesses a murder, and are trapped in a room with the club owner Darcy (Patrick Stewart) and his group are taunting and planning on eliminating everyone who can turn them in.

We are introduced to Pat (Anton Yelchin), Sam (Alia Shawkat), Reece (Joe Cole), and Tiger (Callum Turner) who are traveling in the northwest for gigs. Film begins with them waking up in a crop field, after the driver fell asleep and lost control leaving them in a van without fuel. The script does suffer by not giving any characterization with these characters. They felt hollow and undeveloped, leaving it hard to find sympathy for them when they become threatened.

Jeremy Saulnier direction does create an eerie tone, creating the suspense that is suppose to build up to a thrilling climax. Although, there is not any payoff in the end. These young adults in the band, they are vulnerable, less skilled with weapons, and will try anything to survive, even if it requires fighting there way out. These characters will immaturely use a gun and shoot and miss, which also makes them being threatened even greater. I like how the concept of Darcy wanting to uptight security and trying to contain the situation of making sure these teens will never escape. It does create a bit of mystery with the direction. Could there be something more within that isolated bar in the forest? Could there be something that Darcy is trying to keep hidden away from the authorities? It does have that premise, and the suspense tone works really well. Once the thrills and body counts increases, there is nothing satisfying in the end result. Just one situation of teens escaping and getting captured and killed one by one, as they continue to figure a way out of the bar.

Green Room is a fair horror thriller film, it creates the suspense feel, too bad the script was shallow when it comes to characters, and the mystery suspense wore off a little too quick.