Review: Green Room

A room full of curious Patrick Stewart fans and ex-punk rockers (although, whoever said the two were mutually exclusive?) figuratively shake hands and sit together in silent comradeship in the Duke’s at Komedia on a chilly Friday night. What follows is not for the faint-hearted… a cheeky young punk rock band find themselves held hostage at a secluded gig venue by a right wing assembly, after stumbling upon a violent murder scene after their set. Boots and braces, fighting dogs, more knives and firearms than stick-and-poke tattoos; heavy hangs the threat of physical violence throughout, and frequently delivers. Don’t waste too much time developing a crush on any of our posi-punk protagonists.

Speaking as someone who used to have Misfits, Cromags and Fugazi patches adorning my own clothes in the late ’90s, it is lamentable that this film didn’t make use of the numerous bands it name-dropped on the soundtrack, which may have elevated it from niche horror to cult movie status. But kudos to Patrick Stewart for trying on a spectacularly different acting hat, and a hearty ‘well done’ to the ingenious prosthetics crew, who thoroughly and completely put me off my popcorn.

Duke’s at Komedia, 20 November 2015

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