''Green Room'' Cuts to the Bone!

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2016)

Some movies have over-the-top violence (The Evil Dead), some have excessive violence (Inside), and some have realistic violence, that's 'Green Room'. Following up the out-of-nowhere hit 'Blue Ruin', Saulnier returns with another tension-fueled story with crazy-realistic violence that cuts to the bone. This may not have a complex story like 'Blue Ruin', but it's definitely a step up in terms of tension and trepidation.
'Green Room' isn't just the type of movie that has violence for the sake of violence, this movie earns the violence. It's doled out in small short bursts, but those small bursts are incredibly potent and shocking. Every bit a carnage shown on screen is earned.
Not only does the movie present the audience with the obvious fear of death (specifically by mauling) but it also presents us with the fear of a real, competent antagonist. Patrick Stewart's character is menacing without ever doling out any violence himself, he's smart, calculating, and manipulative. It's not often you see movies where the bad guys actually outsmart the heroes multiple times. And that's the real fear factor here, a formidable bad guy.
The downside of 'Green Room' are the thin characters who receive little-to-no development. I wish we were shown a bit more interactions among the band members to reinforce our emotional connection with them.
Outside of the weak characters, there are plenty of obstacles the characters must go up against which only makes the movie all the more exciting. Saulnier knows exactly what he is doing and creates a ton of tension, which more than makes up for the lack of a complex story.
This is one of the years must see thrillers!