Green Room

On the one hand, a number of promising ideas that enrich the film as a slasher (the ugly setting and the whole community of skinhead freaks, the murderous slaughterhouse as a means of getting rid of witnesses, the isolation of the titular room), on the other hand, a completely sloppy approach to most of the characters, whom we don't care about, not very interesting direction and not much of a script to speak of – I liked the initial psychological pressure and unpredictability, too bad it turned into a mechanically repetitive parade in a closed building where at times logic gets lost. But I still had a good time, the violence was impressive, the pace remained at a decent level and of course Patrick Stewart in an unconventional villain role was a delight. Inoffensively watchable, nothing more, nothing less. (2018-09-17)

After a long time, a horror film in a more brutal package. It starts off slower, but from the 40 minute mark it becomes a decent rough ride of solid gore (although there could have been a bit more), and the fighting dogs, the Nazis, the punk music, the ugly setting are all welcome. It's not a pretty watch, but the pacing is brisk, and Green Room is definitely one of the better ones this year. 75% (2016-07-01)

The most surprising aspect of Green Room is the non-filmic aspect consisting in the fact that it polarises the audience at all. One would expect that people would simply enjoy a flick that serves up an absorbing survival story in exchange for a drop of suspension of disbelief. Green Room is neither a realistic drama nor an ambitious revision of genre rules, but rather an ingeniously and not quite traditionally constructed genre film. Like Wolf Creek, for example, it takes its time initiating the confrontation. When it comes this time, genre excess does not emerge, but rather realism continues to be applied within the boundaries of the genre. From that, it is apparent that the film does not play completely according to formulas or, said more precisely, that it does not develop the situation predictably through clichés, but spontaneously through the characters and the playing out of the claustrophobic situation. Thanks to that, the overarching survival stand-off narrative gets some fresh blood in its veins. The gradual alternation of attempts to survive and the revelation of facts that are unknown to both the viewer and the characters keeps the tension building. Thanks to the fact that the filmmakers stay grounded in terms of eye-catching genre elements (from overwrought heroism and pompous negativity to superficial attractions), the traditional alienation of the film does not bring up any questions about what will happen next or how it will turn out, and the impulsively behaving characters only carry the viewer onward to the next unconventionally constructed scene. But apparently not for everyone. Then the question is, why? Because today’s film fans have become so enamoured with overly sophisticated blockbusters and high-quality TV that they cannot enjoy a precise, non-camp genre spectacle that is not exceedingly wise, but is just inconspicuously clever? (2016-08-08)

Green Room doesn't necessarily bring anything new in terms of survival, it actually relies on the classics, but it does so in an incredibly good way. It's mainly because there's an atmosphere here that can really make you squirm and make you look away rather than at what's going on. Not many recent horror films can do that. This one handles it with ease. (2016-10-24)

Nazi punks fuck off. It kept me on my feet like a pit bull and tightened its grip at the end. It follows a single logic - the logic of escalating tension. I turn off the logic circuits - this film is everything I expect from a slasher. Great characters, atmospheric environment, a smoothed-out villain and intense "game" finale. Brilliant point. I enjoy every detail. DIY garage pleasure with a properly turned-up amp. Probably the best Yelchin role ever. (2017-01-06)