Fangoria Reviews Green River

GREEN RIVER (DVD Review)
by Marla Newborn
Program Content Director, FANGORIA ENTERTAINMENT


My colleague asked if I would take a look at GREEN RIVER the Vanguard Cinema film released on DVD in 2009. Knowing nothing about the film I said “sure.” Since we are FANGORIA I figured GREEN RIVER would be a horror movie. Well, it's not exactly horror; however, it is shot phenomenally and thus is a beautiful looking thriller (oxymoron intended).

The Vanguard thriller “GREEN RIVER” now on DVD is quite chilling as well. The premise here is that several, rather multiples of women have gone missing in the Green River area which is somewhere in the most exquisite countryside in Montana. Against this backdrop of missing girls, Chrissie and Ali take a drive up to Chrissie’s family house by Green River. Chrissie’s sister went missing several years back so why she would want to go up there is anyone’s guess. However she has her best friend with her and it seems as if they are looking forward to a relaxing weekend out of the city. Naturally things start to build up as the girls get closer to the cabin: the people in the local cafe are strange and already Ali is starting to act jumpy. Green River has some of the most beautiful cinematography. The talent is in Sam Taybi who triples as Director, Director of Photography, and Story and Screenplay writer. And writing about talent, Todd Erickson also triples up as Co-Editor, Music writer and Sound Mixer. Together with the rest of the crew they do a beautiful job. Green River draws the audience into the woods, into a walk by the river and into the terror that unfolds. Kristina Hughes plays a wonderfully unstable Ali and she shows a great range and stretch in character. There are some surprises and twists and an unconventional end. Given the unconventional end, I recommend Green River.

It seems as if Vanguard, who bill themselves as Quality Independent Cinema is just that. They seem to have a good eye in knowing what films to pick up and distribute. Not exactly horror but a through and through Thriller and we all know how good they can be.