Green Room

Green Room

Starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Patrick Stewart

Directed by Jeremy Saulnier

The Story:
Pat (Anton Yelchin), Sam (Alia Shawkat), Reece (Joe Cole) and Tiger (Callum Turner) are members of a punk rock band named Ain't Rights, and have booked a gig at a bar in Oregon.  When they arrive, they find that the bar is a neo-Nazi  skinhead-run business owned by Darcy Banker (Patrick Stewart).  After accidentally witnessing a murder, Darcy and his army hold Pat and his friends hostage in the club, which leads to a struggle for survival as the band has to use their wits to figure a way out of the club.

The Synopsis:
Jeremy Saulnier is an up-and-coming director who has a flair for directing films that are witty, intelligent and rather out-of-the-box, which is a unique thing for a Hollywood director in a land filled with prequels, sequels, book-based movies and other unoriginal content.  With his third film, "Green Room," he not only directed the film but wrote it as well, showing that there are a few cinematic gems out there that are wholly original ("The Gift" is another such film, and another one I highly recommend).

While there's some stereotypical aspects to the film (neo-Nazi skinheads = evil, obviously), it's still a compelling, tense thrill ride into the depths of depravity and travels from zero to one hundred in a split second.  As we meet the band, we don't find anything original about them.  There's no back story to their situation, why they formed the band, who might be dating who (there were some vibes between Pat and Sam, but nothing definite), and in essence, they were just people in the wrong place at the wrong time.  This simplistic approach to the protagonists gives viewers a sense of heightened despair and fear, as you realize this could happen to anyone. 

"Green Room" is more than just a lazy "Saw" wannabe, but it's very intelligent and includes some dark humor, claustrophobic spaces and compelling acting, especially by Anton Yelchin, who was geared to be an indie film darling ("Charlie Bartlett" and "Odd Thomas" are two of his best) before his untimely death.  Here, he's the leader of the band, but as indecisive as they come, plus he hints at cowardliness and relies on others more than he should.  Still, when push comes to shove, he finds the power inside to overcome.  The other standout performance is by the ever-amazing Sir Patrick Stewart, who, once he read the script in his England home, locked up the house, turned on the security system and poured himself a Scotch because he was so unnerved by it.  This is a much different Patrick Stewart than we've seen before, as he serves as the most insane, psychopathic person in the group.  He gives his all in the performance, and it shows with how outstanding he delivered it.  As the film gains a cult classic following, his villain will be remembered as one of the best.

The violence in the film is highly graphic and unnerving, delivered with perfect execution that will make you cringe, and the setting of the film - mostly a green room in a very unsanitary club - gives a tight, claustrophobic feel that anyone who's afraid of small spaces will be affected by.  As the film progresses, you think you've seen the worst of it, but then it ups the gore and violence once again to a point of near-absurdity, but thankfully never reaches that apex.  Plus, for a title like "Green Room," the film is heavily green.  From the Oregon setting (the woods and the fields give a lush green texture) to the club itself (with its green walls, green graffiti and off-green lighting), "Green Room" holds true to its colorful title in more ways than just the titular room it speaks of.

The Summary:
A wholly unique tale into the world of madness, "Green Room" delivers a powerful punch with its brilliant blend of acting, effects and setting to give you an unnerving sense of dread and hopelessness.

The Score: A