Unapologetic for All the Right Reasons

Rating: 9/10 (20 June 2019)

Because the horror movie genre has a wide array of themes to tackle, be it supernatural or psychological, it only makes sense that some filmmakers choose to tell down to earth stories with it based on the horrors of our world. In the case of Green Room, it delves into a more realistic tone to reveal just how horrid some parts of the American society can truly be. After it premiered at Cannes in 2015, it got a wider release in 2016 to rave reviews. Even though it didn't perform well financially, it's definitely a flick worth being deemed as a classic in the future just for how little it holds back just to give its own two cents on certain individuals.
The film centers on a punk rock band who get attacked by neo-Nazi skinheads after witnessing a murder performed at a remote club in the Pacific Northwest. The film cleverly lets the uneasiness transition in smoothly, as the band are already aware they're performing for this infamous group. It isn't until the aforementioned murder happens when the stakes really get intense, as the band are all held hostage at the hands of these psychopaths. As for the plot itself, it mainly focuses on both the band members trying to figure a way out of the place and the skin heads figuring out ways to kill them quicker. While the pacing can drag on at points, it still works in service to the unpredictable tension that plagues the fear all around the member's escape tactics. The only legitimate critique on the story's front is that the ending feels somewhat anti climatic, although I imagine it's how most would seek vengeance on others.
As long as you have good characters, they should be worth rooting for in such dire situations, and the film features a successful cast. In terms of the band members, Pat, Sam, Reece and Tiger all have their own disagreements with one another but still do their best as a team to solve any given dilemma that hits them. By thinking ahead around the obstacles in their path, these people are examples as to why logic is necessary for escaping sociopathic slime. Arguably the most sympathetic character in the film is one of the murder witnesses Amber, given that she only became part of the nazi cult as a way of escaping a hellish life, only to go out of her way to get rid of such a past. While most of the skin heads are downright evil, the most sophisticated of them all is the leader Darcy. In addition to Patrick Stewart selling charisma on top of masochism, this guy is a brilliant mastermind to the point of always being on guard to stop any witnesses who may get in his sadistic ways. With a mix of moral and immoral views, all the characters remain memorable for different reasons.
Now while the film was made on a low budget, it made good use of its limitations with fast paced editing, frightening lighting and the overall atmosphere. Given that there isn't a lot of music outside of some rock ballads and a quiet score, the scenes appropriately grate on the nerves with a subtle flow from the relatively calm moments to the inevitable massacring. It's necessary to let the scares come at a natural ease before suckering the viewers with them. Given the film's title, the actual green room area creates a very claustrophobic environment where you can never expect what will come at you, especially with the shadowy spaces where you can't make out anything. The usage of cutting the shots every five to ten seconds helps to heighten up the paranoia of being held hostage by fascist supremacists, as if it's all a reflection of the viewers being in such a psychotic situation. Without cheesy jump scares or obnoxious music, a setting can do all the work to freak people out.
If there could ever be a horror film that can best be described as eye opening, this one would be that. By delivering unapologetic thrills with a surprising amount of intelligence, Green Room is the type of thriller that really opens up people to the real horror of the world: reality. While hate-filled groups have existed in America for centuries (let alone the whole world), we tend to forget just how badly they can affect the lives of others who are unfortunate enough to stumble upon them. Be it fiction or non-fiction, we need media to remind us of how ruthlessly savage certain groups like neo-nazis truly are, because if left unchecked, the more damaged democracy's reputation would become. Unless you can't stand to witness the brutal truth of the world, this film is a must watch for any horror fan or cinephile who wants to experience something out of the ordinary for the genre's typical standards. It may not hold back, but it will still make you think long and hard about our society.