While watching Green Room I had one of those cathartic movie experiencing moments where I literally had to stop and think to myself, “This is why I watch films.” Before going any further into this review I will just go ahead and say off the bat, this movie deserves your attention, it is a drop everything and see it now type affair.  It won’t be for the faint of heart but for any fear seeking, thrill riding types, this movie is just for you.

Green Room opens up with some well shot scenes which sets the standard for the rest of the film’s run time. There are multiple scenes that are beautiful even despite the depravity that is ensuing in said scene. What starts off as a young punk rock road group, ends up in a terrifying tale that circles the themes of “what are you willing to become to survive.” The idea of duality permeates through this entire movie as you see many complex scenes of characters shifting in and out of being the hero and becoming the monster. It is such a well crafted story and walks that line perfectly, while never committing to giving an answer on what is morally right.  The characters are deep, without having to say much, the scene of hopelessness infects the movie in all the right ways, and the constant sense of dread never lets up.

Rest in Peace Anton

The recently deceased Anton Yelchin takes up leading male roles and really delivers a performance that will have us all missing this bright young star’s career and what it could have been. His character has such a major transformation in Green Room that I am afraid to dive into anymore in fear of strolling into spoiler territories. He has an amazing supporting cast that includes the likes of, Alia Shawkat (Maeby Funke from Arrested Development), and Imogen Poots (a name that is infinitely fun to say) whom both give great performances; especially Poots whom I cannot wait to see more of.

This Isn’t the Patrick Stewart You Grew Up With

It would be hard to go any further without pointing out the complete paradigm shift Patrick Stewart’s career will take after this role. Never have I seen a more sadistic performance. It borders on the line between Walter White (Breaking Bad) and the character Ed Norton plays in American History X. He is absolutely terrifying in this movie and I had multiple thoughts that stemmed along the lines of, “Not my Patrick Stewart!” He plays a neo-Nazi skinhead who owns the bar that our main characters are playing at. To go any further into detail would ruin the mystery behind the entire run time of Green Room, which had me second guessing myself at every turn.

I do not easily scare. I am not one who gets much out of the horror/thriller genre these days. This movie is certainly more of a thriller, and while it has elements of torture porn and gore fest, it would be disingenuous to call it either. Yes there is plenty of gore, gore so graphic it even had me turning my head at multiple points.  Yes this movie has elements of people trying to survive their sadistic captures, which sounds very by the number, but again this movie is so much more than that. It is easy to lump this flick in with those types of movies when only seeing a trailer or hearing people talk about surface level elements. You will just have to trust me when I say the movie is unlike anything you have ever seen. Never has a movie evoked so much emotion out of me. It has been such a long time that a film got under my skin this much, and it is a sensation I deeply miss. If you are a fan of these twisted thrillers, this is a must see for you. However, if you are easily spooked, do not enjoy stressful scenes, or are easily squeamish, I would heavily consider passing on this movie. It is a rough and emotional experience, but I mean that in the most positive of ways. Movies this special only come a few times in a lifetime, and I challenge all of you to seek it out and experience it for yourselves.