Phil's Halloween Horror Watch: GREEN ROOM (2015) from A24 - October 2, 2016

GREEN ROOM Blu-Ray

GREEN ROOM
Starring: Anton Yelchin, Patrick Stewart, Imogen Poots, Alia Shankar, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Macon Blair, Taylor Tunes
Written by Jeremy Saulnier
Cinematography by Sean Porter
Edited by Julia Bloch
Produced by Neil Koop, Victor Moyers, Anish Savjani, Vincent Savino, Macon Blair, Daniel Hammond, Gabriel Hammond, Brian Johnston
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier
Released by A24

Welcome back to another installment of Phil's Halloween Horror Watch! Tonight's film has been receiving a plethora of critical acclaim and for good reason. This is an ugly film to watch and I'm not just talking about the bloodshed, gore and the violence (which this film has). No I'm talking about the characters, the so-called human beings that occupy within this cinematic universe. With prestigious and talented actors, complex story and visceral directing, GREEN ROOM is a movie that is not for the faint of hearts.

The film's official synopsis: A band straying into a secluded part of the Pacific Northwest stumbles onto a horrific act of violence. Because they are the only witnesses, they become the targets of a terrifying gang of skinheads who want to make sure all the evidence is eliminated.

One word I used over and over again when I first watched the movie: WOW! Patrick Stewart is just unbelievably evil in the film! Vicious, malevolent, diobolical, he's everything that you would expect the man to portray. Best known as Jean-Luc Picard from the STAR TREK series and Proffessor X from the X-MEN franchise, Stewart proves that he can play any character in any genre. He has such a tremendous range that it's profoundly astonishing to see him portray this disgusting man named Darcy Banker. It was said in an interview that Stewart was reading the film's script at his English country home and was he was done reading it, he immediately locked his house up and turned on his alarm because it freaked him out that much. It was then that he knew that he wanted to play the main antagonist.

Theatrical Movie Poster (2015)

Also appearing in the film is the late Anton Yelchin, who portrays the protagonist Pat. I found it hard at times to watch the movie knowing that he no longer here. As I mentioned in my STAR TREK BEYOND review, he was accidentally killed in a freak accident at his home on June 19, 2016 when he was pinned between his keep and the brick mailbox. I find it ironic that the movie has two STAR TREK stars from two different generations appearing together. But once again Yelton knocks it out of the park. He shows a wide range of acting; showcasing determination, fear, and finally hero. It really is a shame that he is not here to see how his film has garnered so much acclaim, along with his acting as well. He was such a gifted and talented actor. Sometimes we are reminded that life isn't always fair and sometimes the good die young.

Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier poured a lot of social and political commentary into his film. Topics about Neo Nazis, racism, hate crimes, murder, punk rock codes and the human will to survive, the movie is very in-your-face. Hell, the first song Pat's band plays is the Dead Kennedy's classic, "Nazi Punks Fuck Off." The movie grabs you right in the jugular and doesn't let go till the final ending credits. It's shot as it's a documentary and it does not flinch from the violence at all. A very bold statement has been made by this up and coming filmmaker!

Filmed in October 2014, it made it's debut at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17, 2015. Shortly thereafter, it was picked up for distribution by A24. It went on to open the Toronto International Film Festival that September and received a limited theatrical release in April of this year before being released worldwide the next month.

GREEN ROOM is a horrorific thriller of a masterpiece!! Not one time did I feel safe watching the movie! A truly disturbing cinematic gem!! 5 out of 5 stars!! Very highly recommended!!

GREEN ROOM is currently available on Blu-Ray and DVD. It is also available on iTunes, Video On Demand, Netflix and Redbox.

Thanks for reading, and enjoy the screaming!