Geez, being a member of an indie band can be punishing, but I’ve never seen anything quite like this. The latest from writer/director Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin) is in many respects a more conventional horror/thriller than his previous (and far moodier) films. However, that does not make this effort any less effective. Green Room succeeds from beginning to end as a tense and nerve-wrecking exercise in terror.
The story follows a punk band (Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole and Callum Turner) struggling to make their name in the music world. For these broke musicians, that means playing some pretty strange venues. When a show is cancelled, an acquaintance arranges for them to play a matinee at a small Oregon club off the beaten path that caters to skinheads. It isn’t long after their set that Pat (Yelchin) accidentally walks in on a crime scene. The group are forcibly locked into the green room as the club owner (Patrick Stewart) arrives. Trapped, they attempt to find a means of escape from violent Neo-Nazis attempting to cover their tracks.
While the concept is unique, the format is nothing new for the genre. However, every aspect of the production is exceedingly well-handled. It features a strong group of lead characters and the movie takes its time to develop characters. We get to know them individually through an early band interview and spend enough time on the road with them to help each person stand out. And although the villains are threatening, focus is spent on many of them as well. These villains feel authentic in the moment and that makes the threat all the more palpable.
Further tension is created from the fact that all of the characters have to shift their plans on the fly. Whether good and bad, all are desperate to end the standoff in one way or another and events almost never go according to plan. There are others within the location whose allegiances change, leading to some uneasy partnerships. Viewers are never quite certain who to trust, further adding to the suspense.
The violence is particularly harrowing. Part of what makes it so wince-inducing is just how relatable the brutal injuries are. There are shootings, but it’s the stabbings (in particular, one arm-related incident) and the frequent dog attacks that are sure to make many hardened viewers squirm. And that’s because they are things that one can easily imagine happening to them.
Additionally, the photography adds to the claustrophobia. The location is a small, beat up club with narrow hallways. It feels like the camera consistently stays tight on the performers, helping the set to appear even more confined. Outside the green room and in the main club, the lighting is also dark, continuing the confined and threatening tone. Yet it is not so dim that viewers won’t be able to distinguish what they’re looking at. There are also plenty of cutaways to attack dogs at various times. Even when they’re not around, viewers will constantly be aware that the vicious animals could jump in at any moment.
As mentioned, there aren’t a lot of big story surprises. There have been hundreds of movies about characters trapped in remote and isolated locations coming under attack and struggling to break free. However, the movie’s conventional aspects are delivered with such style and efficiency that the dramatic impact remains powerful.
Green Room hooked me quickly and when the drama really hits, it becomes about as chilling and compelling as one could possibly hope for. If you like horror pictures, this tense and violent nail-biter should get the blood-pumping and elevate your heart rate until the lights come up.