Green Room

Jeremy Saulnier's follow-up to 2013's Blue Ruin centers on a failing punk band comprised of singer Tiger (Callum Turner), guitarist Sam (Alia Shawkat), bassist Pat (Anton Yelchin), and drummer Reece (Joe Cole). In the midst of a road trip that has left them stranded and short on cash for gas, an apparent lifeline is offered in the form of a paying gig at an out-of-the-way roadhouse in the Oregon woods. The place turns out to be a neo-Nazi watering hole, and after stumbling upon the murder of a groupie in the dressing room the band members become the target of the place's coolly malevolent owner, Darcy (Patrick Stewart), who aims to frame them for the crime. That sets in motion an extended cat-and-mouse game in which the terrified quartet, joined by the dead girl's friend, try to escape while Darcy and his thugs aim to eliminate them by any means available (including vicious fight dogs). Saulnier is effective in setting up tense confrontations among the antagonists, and the level of gore is restrained by today's very liberal standards. But as the body count rises inexorably, Green Room is revealed to basically be a proficient genre piece—albeit one featuring an intriguing change of pace for Stewart. A strong optional purchase. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary with writer-director Jeremy Saulnier, and an “Into the Pit” making-of featurette (10 min.). Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus UltraViolet copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a decent thriller.] (F. Swietek)