Writer: Jeremy Saulnier (Screenplay)
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Joe Cole, Alia Shawkat, Callum Turner, Imogen Potts, Patrick Stewart
Plot: After witnessing a murder, a punk rock band is forced into a vicious fight for survival against a group of maniacal skinheads.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: One of the Best
Story: Green Room starts as we follow a punk rock band with Pat (Yelchin), Reece (Cole), Sam (Shawkat) and Tiger (Turner) as their members traveling to their next gig. When this gig goes bad their connection sends them to perform for a skinhead group with good pay.
With the show going well and the door open for them to leave the band walks into a crime scene when one of the guests has been killed. The band joined by Amber (Potts) must wait their time out within the Green Room while Darcy (Stewart) is getting his men ready to kill them all to cover up the murder and continue their business.
Green Room gives us a story that is easy to follow as we find our characters trapped surrounded by skinhead madmen who want to cover up their own crimes. This shows us how the unlikely fighters have to work together against men who don’t have an issue with killing anyone but we also see how this needs to be done without making too much of a mess. This is a tension filled horror thriller that is one that can be enjoyed throughout.
Actor Review
Anton Yelchin: Pat is one of the supporting member of the band who is the one that witnesses the murder leaving his friends trapped within the club. He tries to be the voice of reason throughout the situation. Anton gets to play a character that goes through full development through the film as we seen quiet band member turned into fighter by the end of the film.
Imogen Potts: Amber is one of the crew but it is her friend that is murdered leaving her life in just as much risk as the band, she has to unit with band to make it out of the situation alive. Imogen is good in this role.
Patrick Stewart: Darcy is the leader of the skinheads, he keeps calm while witnessing what is happening knowing that any exposure will be the end of the club. He has every single member under his thumb and doesn’t blink when it comes to showing his violent side. Patrick is brilliant in this role completely against anything you have ever seen him do before.
Alia Shawkat: Sam is the female member of the band who finds herself just as trapped as the rest, she does panic slightly more than the rest of band too. Alia does a good job in this supporting role.
Support Cast: Green Room has a supporting cast which includes the rest of the band as the skinheads with all their own motivations and desire to be violent.
Director Review: Jeremy Saulnier – Jeremy gives us a horror that is filled with tension and most importantly isn’t afraid to shy away from violence but also doesn’t use it for the sake of it.
Crime: Green Room starts with a murder before we get the cover up of the murder with more murder to cover up the crimes going on within the grounds.
Horror: Green Room puts our characters in a position where violence is the only way to survive against the violent men outside the room.
Thriller: Green Room keeps us on edge from the moment the band walks into the gig till the final moments of the film.
Settings: Green Room does everything you want a horror film to do, create the isolation our characters find themselves in.
Special Effects: Green Room has brilliant effects to show you can do a lot with practical effects over CGI.
Suggestion: Green Room is one for the horror fans to go out and watch. (Horror Fans Watch)
Best Part: Patrick Stewart out of character.
Worst Part: I can see certain horror fans not enjoying this.
Believability: No
Chances of Tears: No
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Oscar Chances: No
Budget: $5 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 35 Minutes
Tagline: Now. Whatever you saw or did. Is no longer my concern. But let’s be clear. It won’t end well.
Trivia: Patrick Stewart said in an interview that when he received the script at his country home in England, it was so terrifying that he locked up his house, turned on the security system and poured himself a Scotch. He then knew that he wanted to play the Darcy Banker role because a character that horrifying would be an incredible challenge and make for a compelling film.
Overall: One of the best horrors of 2016.
Rating