Green Room

Death metal meets death in this tense, tight and inventive splatter pic that should keep genre fans extremely happy – if not rather shaken.

Green for danger

The green room is where the heavy metal band The Ain’t Rights finds itself trapped after a gig goes awry. Actually, there was nothing wrong with the group’s performance, they just happened to witness something they really, really shouldn’t have. Desperate to make some real cash, the band agreed to sing for a crowd of neo-Nazi types at a venue tucked away in the Oregon woodland. That’s desperation for you…

The writer-director Jeremy Saulnier is a smarter genre filmmaker than most as he employs a narrative shorthand that cuts to the chase without losing any humour or character interest. His film also makes for extremely intense viewing, with special kudos going to the make-up and special effects department. It’s certainly not recommended to those of a more sensitive disposition.

JAMES CAMERON-WILSON

Cast: Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner, Mark Webber, Patrick Stewart.

Dir Jeremy Saulnier, Pro Neil Kopp, Anish Savjani and Victor Moyers, Screenplay Jeremy Saulnier, Ph Sean Porter, Pro Des Ryan Warren Smith, Ed Julia Bloch, Music Brooke Blair and Will Blair, Costumes Amanda Needham.

Broad Green Pictures/Film Science-Picturehouse Entertainment.
94 mins. USA. 2015. Rel: 13 May 2016. Cert. 18.