An excellent thriller that's fiercely violent and menacingly unnerving.

Rating: 8/10 (8 July 2016)

Green Room is Jeremy Saulnier's third film (though his first, entitled 'Murder Party', is less well-known and was made on the down-low), one that solidifies him as an excellent writer and director; I can't wait to see what he does next. It's an intense thriller that focuses upon a group of punk musicians after they become trapped in the green room of a neo-Nazi bar. It is unnerving, menacing, fiercely violent and entirely captivating. It's also unpredictable and intensely grotesque; it will keep you on the edge of your seat and likely get under your skin. I really liked the movie, thinking it one of the best of the year (so far.) I was gripped for it's 95-minute run-time, and - if you can stomach the violence - would highly recommend it.
The characters in the film are mostly well-rounded, and the script does a good job of making them feel like real people. Although some of them are a little dim, making some questionable decisions that obviously lead to bad outcomes, but the situation is stressful and unusual: the characters have never been a part of something like this before, and so are unaware of the best way to proceed. That's the main issue with the script and characters, but it didn't bother me that much because I don't think anyone would know how best to act if they were involved in these events. The script is also subtly witty and there are some elements of dark-humour peppered throughout the picture. The acting is also great, especially that of Anton Yelchin and Patrick Stewart. They both turn in excellent, if different, performances. Yelchin is believable as the (inept) protagonist who's initially uncomfortable with violence and constantly scared; he thinks he may die at any moment, and the performance really emphasises this. He's also very good at acting in pain, as his character is subjected to some intense injuries, which is an uncommon skill. Stewart is understated in his role, playing a very calm and matter-of-fact character. He's ruthless, cold and down-right despicable but always maintains his composure; he never even raises his voice, yet is very menacing throughout. These two characters are really the main focus of the film, aside from perhaps the greater situation, and both are compelling to watch - even if they rarely meet face-to-face.
The direction and cinematography are both fantastic, with the film taking on a literal green colour-tone (applied lightly throughout.) The cuts feel natural and aren't jarring, they're barely even noticeable, with several hidden longer takes. The action is also filmed very well, with no shaky cam or insanely quick editing, with the majority of it on-screen and clear. The film is savagely violent, too. There isn't any torture or overt sadism, but each attack is brutal and wince-inducing. The tone is what sells the gore, as the whole film takes on this seedy and unnerving feeling. It gets under your skin and the tension is almost tangible; you actually start to feel trapped like the characters and the overwhelmingly negative odds start to weigh down on you. The effects are incredibly convincing, each injury seems to be real and the actors do a great job at selling them. The violent acts are realistic in nature, nothing is stylised and the camera rarely cuts away. You're forced to watch just as the characters are forced to endure, which creates the feeling that there's no escape. It isn't over the top, none of it feels glamorised or cartoon-esque, and as such is all the more intense. A shot involving Yelchin's arm and another involving a box-cutter being used on someone's stomach are particularly severe and powerful. I didn't mind the violence, as it was justified by the context and not just gore for gore's sake, but I can see some people being put off by it. The story doesn't centre around the violence and it isn't endorsed at all, but it is an integral part of the thrilling experience.
Overall, I found Green Room to be an excellent and compelling thriller. It's unnerving, nasty, unpredictable, unflinching, seedy, savage and brutal but the experience is arresting and had me on the edge of my seat throughout; it's expertly written, directed, shot and acted. One of my favourite films of the year, I'd highly recommend this - if you can stomach it's violence: 8/10