--- title: "Green Room: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/green-room/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/green-room" critics_score: 69 critics_reviews: 26 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Green Room (2016): what the critics said Critics' score 69 from 26 reviews: 18 positive, 4 mixed, 4 negative. Most critics favour Green Room as a tightly controlled siege thriller, with praise concentrated on Saulnier’s staging, economical pacing and sudden, graphic violence. The reviews repeatedly note the clear geography of the action, inventive escape tactics and dry humour amid the bloodshed. Strong ensemble work also earns approval, with Patrick Stewart’s quietly menacing neo-Nazi leader drawing particular attention. For its supporters, the practical gore and convincing desperation make the familiar setup feel dangerous. The spread is wide, however, and agreement on technical skill does not extend to character or substance. Several reviews find less depth and originality than in Blue Ruin, while others see unexpected character detail. Variety admires the craft but finds too little humanity or sustained tension; RogerEbert.com argues that the direction leaves the characters trapped in a schematic plot. Even Stewart divides opinion: Screen Daily finds his role uninteresting. The central disagreement is whether the brutality produces fear or merely unpleasantness. ## Los Angeles Times — Robert Abele Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2016. Saulnier delivers a demonically gripping, tense and brutal genre triumph that keeps viewers on edge through clever gambits and atmospheric dread. The film is a gonzo knockout of siege cinema whose meticulous craftsmanship outweighs its sickening violence. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-green-room-review-20160415-story.html) ## The AV Club — A.A. Dowd Rating A-. 14 April 2016. The critic praises it as a nasty, punk-as-fuck midnight movie that is even better and bloodier than Blue Ruin, with a strong grasp of characters and desperate situations amid the carnage. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/it-s-punks-versus-nazis-in-green-room-s-grisly-terrify-1798187373) ## Slant Magazine Rating 3.5/4. 11 April 2016. The critic sees the film as an unambiguous endorsement of violent revolt against savagery, with thunderous visceral impact and effective uncertainty, though noting some lapses in logic. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/green-room/) ## Empire — Kim Newman Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 9 May 2016. Saulnier delivers a powerful suspense picture that meshes spiky suspense and action with blackly comic touches. The film stands out for its inventive siege mechanics and unexpected character depths amid the gore. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/green-room-review/) ## Radio Times — Jeremy Aspinall Rating 4/5. Calls it a pulsating and riveting thriller with breathless tension from the contrast between the pastoral setting and savage violence, comparing it to classic siege films like Assault on Precinct 13 and Straw Dogs. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-e9mdwp/green-room/) ## The Guardian — Mark Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 15 May 2016. The critic calls it a gruelling, gutsy suspense ride that takes a box cutter to siege/slasher conventions with sudden visceral violence. Patrick Stewart's silver-tongued neo-Nazi leader is singled out for bringing a Shakespearean edge and political dimension to the drama. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/may/15/green-room-review-patrick-stewart-horror) ## The Times — Edward Porter Rating ★★★★. 15 May 2016. The critic praises it as pure pulp that gains from realistic behaviour and good performances, adding unpredictability to its bloodthirsty tussles. Saulnier is commended for making a genre movie with added value, as in his previous film Blue Ruin. [Read the review](https://www.thetimes.com/culture/tv-radio/article/also-showing-film-0h5cjf3xc) ## Time Out — Joshua Rothkopf Rating 4/5. 9 May 2016. Praises the gripping indie thriller with smart commentary on rage fueling violence and art, and highlights the disgusting gore effects achieved with old-school craft. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/green-room) ## Film Comment — David Fear Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). Saulnier builds a leaner, meaner siege thriller than expected, with controlled chaos, restraint, humor, and graphic violence in the standoff. Strong cast performances, especially Stewart's menacing low-key turn and Poots's resourceful role, stand out. [Read the review](https://www.filmcomment.com/article/review-green-room-jeremy-saulnier/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Leslie Felperin Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2015. Festival review. The critic finds the film entertaining as a gory siege thriller but less disciplined, original, and memorable than Saulnier's previous Blue Ruin. Action and suspense are niftily executed with clear spatial layout. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/green-room-cannes-review-796288/) ## Evening Standard — Charlotte O'Sullivan Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2016. Saulnier succeeds in crafting a hardcore siege drama that avoids pandering to armchair thugs, though it is less original and authentic than his prior work. The great gore and moshpit energy of mixing punk references make it worth diving into. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/green-room-film-review-the-skinhead-moshpit-from-your-worst-nightmare-a3247216.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2015. Festival review. Notes it lacks the mournful poetry and thematic depth of Blue Ruin but delivers as a nasty B-movie thriller with blood, body count and dark laughs; praises the taut assurance while finding Stewart's role uninteresting. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/green-room-review/5087658.article) ## Little White Lies — David Jenkins Rating 3/3/3. 10 May 2016. The critic praises the film's skill in crafting a tense punk rockers vs neo-Nazis siege thriller but notes it doesn't deliver more than its modest story allows, singling out the chilling organization skills of the neo-Nazi leader. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/green-room) ## The Telegraph Rating 3/5. 12 May 2016. The critic finds the film a grim, pulverising grindhouse exploitation piece with sickening shocks but criticises its predictability and underused characters. Patrick Stewart is noted as criminally underused despite his commanding presence. [Read the review](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/05/12/patrick-stewarts-punk-slasher-needs-more-anarchy---green-room-re/) ## Vulture Fi1m's normalised score 40/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2016. The critic calls it Grade-B siege-movie schlock that is aggressively unpleasant despite artiness, strong visuals, and performances, especially Patrick Stewart's villain; it fails to fully live up to its parts. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/2016/04/review-the-green-room-is-less-than-its-parts.html) ## RogerEbert.com — Simon Abrams Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 15 April 2016. The film is an overly fussy thriller whose mannered direction distracts from its punk milieu, though it remains economically paced and visually gorgeous. Saulnier excels at tense standoffs and close-to-the-vest humor but fails to make the characters feel fully alive outside the schematic plot. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/green-room-2016) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 14 April 2016. The movie begins with a scruffy comic flavor before turning into a tense and nasty siege film filled with gruesome violence. Patrick Stewart’s against-type villainous turn stands out as a highlight amid the horror-movie logic that becomes more gruesome than terrifying. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/15/movies/green-room-review.html) ## Variety — Guy Lodge Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 17 May 2015. Festival review. Saulnier demonstrates machete-sharp craft and puts an ensemble through the wringer in this ultraviolent backwoods horror-thriller, but it lacks human element, characterization and sustained tension. The technically sharp midnight special dissipates in an anti-climactic final third despite strong contributions below the line. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2015/film/festivals/green-room-review-1201498852/) ## Collider — Perri Nemiroff Rating A. 15 April 2016. Festival review. The critic praises the film's expert shooting, pacing, and layered script, highlighting the intense standoff and impressive gore effects. Saulnier creates an enthralling, adrenaline-fueled experience that makes one want to watch it again. [Read the review](https://collider.com/green-room-review-tiff-2015/) ## The Playlist — Oliver Lyttelton Rating A-. 14 April 2016. Festival review. Commends the exciting, splattery, funny siege thriller as better constructed than Blue Ruin with strong ensemble performances, textured characters, and a detailed punk/skinhead setting; singles out the brutal violence and satisfying payoff. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/review-jeremy-saulniers-exciting-splattery-funny-thriller-green-room-20160414/) ## Consequence Rating B+. 10 April 2016. Festival review. The film maintains Saulnier's knack for hair-trigger tension with a gripping premise executed beautifully, featuring impressive attention to detail and verisimilitude in the battle. The cast delivers understated performances that add to the atmosphere of psychological fear and visceral horror. [Read the review](https://consequence.net/2016/04/tiff-film-review-green-room/) ## HeyUGuys — Ty Cooper Rating 4/5. 25 January 2016. Festival review. Praises the intense, graphic thriller and especially Patrick Stewart's villainous performance as a terrifying Nazi leader; notes it's not for the faint of heart and highlights Saulnier's emerging voice. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/green-room-review/) ## The Skinny — Josh Slater-Williams Rating ★★★★. 17 February 2016. Festival review. A nerve-shredding exercise in tension and occasional outright horror with a mean streak, delivered through tight, economic storytelling. It keeps things simple and scary without shallow excess. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/cineskinny/reviews/green-room) ## Den of Geek — Ryan Lambie Rating 4 out of 5. 13 May 2016. A well-made, lean and fast-moving siege thriller with grubby texture, dry wit, and wince-inducing graphic violence that feels realistic. It loses some intimacy in the final third but remains tense and effective overall. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/green-room-review-2/) ## Eye for Film — Amber Wilkinson Rating ****½. 19 February 2016. Finds it less psychological and more formulaic than Blue Ruin but still relentlessly entertaining with inventive action, comedy, and a tight grip on the siege setup; singles out the precise timing of punchlines alongside blood spatter and the use of gaffer tape. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/green-room-2015-film-review-by-amber-wilkinson) ## Paste — Kenji Fujishima Rating 7.2. 13 April 2016. Saulnier delivers a high-concept thriller between a punk band and neo-Nazis, wringing tension from the pulpy plot with strong performances and economical filmmaking. It stands as one of the best B-movie genre exercises, though its shallowness becomes apparent upon reflection. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/green-room) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/green-room.md