One of the Best Indie Horror Movies of the 2010s Isn’t Even Available to Stream

There’s something supremely unsettling about a horror film that unfolds largely in a single location. Flicks like this take the viewer along on a claustrophobic ride, often resulting in an immersive and intense viewing experience. Few films have executed as effectively on such a conceit as Jeremy Saulnier’s 2015 indie horror picture Green Room. The action quickly kicks into high gear as the core cast find themselves in a deadly battle for survival after witnessing something they were never meant to see. What follows is a ruthless game of cat and mouse from which only a select few will have the chance to walk away.

Despite an effective setup, killer performances from a talented cast, and breakneck action sequences that rarely relent, this standout indie horror effort isn’t available to stream via any of the usual suspects.

Green Room Is NOT Available to Stream

Thanks to the fickle nature of streaming media, this critically lauded picture is conspicuously absent from the streaming space. Though you can rent the film on Digital, you can’t find it on any subscription-based VOD platforms.

Anyone who has seen Green Room is likely to tell you that the flick is well worth seeking out, even if you have to pay to watch it. Many movie lovers and film critics rightfully consider this fast-paced effort one of the best indie horror offerings of the 2010s.

Writer/director Jeremy Saulnier delivers a film that is immersive from start to finish. The action is intense, with much of it confined to the titular green room. That invokes a sense of claustrophobia as members of the punk band the Ain’t Rights find themselves trapped in a confined space after witnessing the aftermath of a brutal murder following a gig at a bar favored by white supremacists.

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Directly after that fateful discovery, band members Pat (Anton Yelchin), Reece (Joe Cole), Tiger (Callum Turner), and Sam (Alia Shawkat) must keep their wits about them as they fight for their lives against a gang of sadistic neo-Nazis with a secret to protect.

Critics took care to praise the protagonists as nuanced and relatable, and it’s not hard to see why. The Ain’t Rights aren’t caricatures or stereotypes like we see in a lot of horror movies; each of the core members reads like a real person who, despite their flaws, gives us every reason to root for their survival.

Less relatable, but equally impressive, is Patrick Stewart as Darcy, the leader of the sadistic neo-Nazis. Stewart speaks so softly that he’s almost whispering, yet that somehow reads as even more imposing than if he were loudly barking orders. Stewart is quietly confident and properly menacing as he conveys a message of intolerance and hatred. Seeing the beloved actor cast against type is nothing short of jarring. We’re used to seeing Stewart tackle more heroic roles like Professor X, yet he shines in his decidedly villainous turn in Green Room.

Stewart and company slice and dice their way through the core cast with nauseating results. The effects are primarily practical and likely to prove difficult to stomach for even the most discerning gore hounds. With that said, the flick never veers into gratuitous torture porn territory. Yes, the viscera is sickening, but you won’t see many lingering close-ups of the aftermath. Saulnier deftly walks the line between grotesque and restrained, ultimately content to mortify the viewer without veering into exploitative territory.

On the whole, Green Room is a wild ride. A ruthless horror picture with a solid cast of characters, each of whom shines in their respective roles. The pace is unrelenting, and the self-contained nature of the story adds an ever-present baseline of tension. It’s a true shame that such an iconic film, one that many consider one of the best indie horror efforts of the 2010s, isn’t available to stream. Even still, this one is well worth seeking out on Digital or via physical media.

Have you had the good fortune to experience Green Room? If so, we’d love to hear your thoughts on the flick. Hit us up in the comments section below to let us know what you think.