Band on the Run

The most terrifying villains are never monsters, only men — a fact that Green Room writer-director Jeremy Saulnier reiterates, most effectively, with his third feature film.

Set in the lush green backwoods of western Oregon, Green Room follows an unknown band as they run out of gas, lose a gig, get interviewed by that one enthusiastic fan every band has and then wind up playing a show in an even more out-of-the-way place than usual. The crowd doesn’t take the bait of the band’s Dead Kennedys cover, but this is far from a story about a bunch of punks provoking their way into a backwaters shitshow.

The tipping point, the thing that makes their violent hosts reveal themselves, is something else entirely. Trapped in the small backstage area, the band (including Anton Yelchin and Alia Shawkat, with Imogen Poots as a show-goer) tries to fight their way past men with knives, trained killer dogs and the club’s eerily calm owner (played by Patrick Stewart, all his usual grace turned to taut, deadly practicality).

Saulnier’s eye for the details of band life, from the perfectly dingy club to the roles each member plays off stage as well as on, gives Green Room the sense of accuracy, of believability, that makes its claustrophobic struggles all the more tense. Oregon’s woods have never looked quite so lonely. There’s another local bonus: Eugene-area actor Kasey Brown plays a “skinhead drummer.” (Broadway Metro)

A Note From the Publisher

Dear Readers,

The last two years have been some of the hardest in Eugene Weekly’s 43 years. There were moments when keeping the paper alive felt uncertain. And yet, here we are — still publishing, still investigating, still showing up every week.

That’s because of you!

Not just because of financial support (though that matters enormously), but because of the emails, notes, conversations, encouragement and ideas you shared along the way. You reminded us why this paper exists and who it’s for.

Listening to readers has always been at the heart of Eugene Weekly. This year, that meant launching our popular weekly Activist Alert column, after many of you told us there was no single, reliable place to find information about rallies, meetings and ways to get involved. You asked. We responded.

We’ve also continued to deepen the coverage that sets Eugene Weekly apart, including our in-depth reporting on local real estate development through Bricks & Mortar — digging into what’s being built, who’s behind it and how those decisions shape our community.

And, of course, we’ve continued to bring you the stories and features many of you depend on: investigations and local government reporting, arts and culture coverage, sudoku and crossword puzzles, Savage Love, and our extensive community events calendar. We feature award-winning stories by University of Oregon student reporters getting real world journalism experience. All free. In print and online.

None of this happens by accident. It happens because readers step up and say: this matters.

As we head into a new year, please consider supporting Eugene Weekly if you’re able. Every dollar helps keep us digging, questioning, celebrating — and yes, occasionally annoying exactly the right people. We consider that a public service.

Thank you for standing with us!