Review of Green Room (2016) by Brett H — 06 Jun 2016

Green Room is the third film from writer/director, Jeremy Saulnier and is further evidence that this is one guy in Hollywood to keep an eye out for as his craft at writing original, and visceral material is unparalleled! The film follows a struggling punk band who take a gig at a bar run by neo-Nazis who then find themselves in a brutal struggle for survival upon witnessing something they weren't supposed to.

Anton Yelchin leads the cast as the mild-mannered, but determined bass player, Imogen Poots plays a former member of the nazis who helps the band after being betrayed, and Patrick-frickin-Stewart plays the leader of the gang and owner of the bar with menacing perfection! The film is extremely harsh in tone and the sometimes startling violence really catches you off-guard with at least four scenes burned into my memory forever.

The nazis' method of using knives and bloodthirsty dogs to take out the band is pretty gruesome to watch, but at a point you notice that they could've easily wrapped this whole thing up, but they drag their feet a bit so we can have a full-length film.

Some of the characters also make bone-headed decisions (on both sides of the fight) and according to the director it is the third installment in his inept protagonist trilogy which certainly adds up, but it's frustrating as a viewer.

Nevertheless, this is a bloody, bleak, and intense thriller that pulls no punches and the premise alone is reason-enough to give it a watch, especially seeing Patrick Stewart in this villainous light!