Green Room is a 2015 horror film directed by Jeremy Saulnier, starring Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum Turner,  and Patrick Stewart. The story focuses on a punk band who find themselves attacked by neo-Nazi skinheads after witnessing a murder at a remote club in the Pacific Northwest.

Positives:

• Good performances
• Good likable characters
• Interesting story

Negatives:

• Lackluster ending
• Flat characters

Plot: After a punk band performs at a remote club, the group witness a murder.  There lives become threatened after a group of neo-Nazis decide to kill them.  The film features a pretty interesting story. It gradually grows from bad to worst as these characters are forced to deal with this terrible situation.  There is a twist in the story but it doesn’t necessarily contribute or feel relevant to the characters’ predicament.  The climax and ending could’ve been a bit better but leaves off more as a meh feeling. Despite these character being in a difficult situation it doesn’t feel like it’s all-or-nothing, no real sense of urgency.  (3 out of 5)

Characters:  The characters are decent but nothing more than that.  Pat (Yelchin), Sam (Shawkat), Reece (Cole), and Tiger (Poots) are the main protagonists and they have a good dynamic as friends.  Though there isn’t much backstory to them when things go south there is sympathy for the characters. Amber is probably the most standout character, not because she’s hot, but because of how she deals with the situation. All-in-all the characters could’ve had a bit more depth to them. Darcy is a pretty cool antagonist, especially given the performance by Stewart.  He is cold but he’s smart, rational and cunning, and that fleshes out the character’s personality. (3 out of 5)

Cast: Despite the lackluster characters, the casting actually pretty good.  The cast includes Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner.  Patrick Stewart is a bad guy, guys.  A freakin badguy.  And he’s great at it. Supporting cast includes Macon Blair, Mark Webber, and Eric Edelstein. (3 out of 5)

Visuals: Good use of practical effects when it comes to the deaths.  The setting leaves a very claustrophobic feel.  The action feels realistic, not over-the-top.  It actually feels like characters who’d trying survive.  There is gore but it isn’t over-the-top and the deaths are done well. (3 out of 5)

Score: The music is decent.  Not enough to be memorable but it definitely helps the more intense sequences of the film.  So Brooke and Will Blair do a good enough job. (3 out of 5)

Writing:  As good a premise as the film has, it does feel lackluster in some areas.  Even though there are neo-Nazis they do not feel relevant.  This film could’ve just as easily been about isolated rednecks or cultist and been just as good.  There should’ve been a more emphasis on the neo-Nazi aspect.  Also, there is the drugs.  Despite being a part of the plot they don’t actually contribute anything to the plot.  Might as well not have been in the movie.

The Verdict:  In the end, Green Room is a decent time waster.  Despite elements of the story that could’ve been fleshed out better, flat characters, and a lackluster ending, there are good performances, interesting story, likable characters, and a claustrophobic feel.  This film could’ve bigger than what it was but it’s worth a watch.  Green Room gets 3 out of 5.