Greenlight Review: It’s Kill Or Be Killed For A Novice Movie Director In This Thriller  | Shriekfest 2019

Filmmaking is a matter of life and death in the new thriller Greenlight. The film screened as part of this past weekend’s Shriekfest Film Festival in Los Angeles, going on to win the Best Thriller Feature Film Award.

Chase Williamson stars as Jack Archer, a struggling director caught in a Hollywood Catch-22. No one will hire him to direct a feature unless he has already made one, but he can’t afford to make one on his own, as he is a struggling filmmaker. A chance meeting with an actress, on a PA job he’s working, leads to a meeting with a producer of low budget schlock. To Jack’s surprise, he is hired to direct this producer’s next film, but there is one big catch that he doesn’t find out until it’s too late. The aforementioned producer wants the final kill of the film to be real, thus necessitating the murder of the film’s male lead. Framed for a crime by the producer, Jack has to decide what’s more important, his morality or finishing his first film?

Said premise is rather clever, and the movie made from it lives up to the promise of the idea. Williamson is great as the put upon director, struggling with the weight of this knowledge. He would go to his supportive girlfriend for help, if the producer hadn’t threatened to murder her and everyone else he loves. This doesn’t really leave Jack with much in the way of choices.

Chris Browning leaves quite an impression on the viewer with his performance as the immoral producer. Smarmy as all get out, he has many a reason to want the lead actor rubbed out. His character believes in his cause, doing all he can to convince the director it will all work out in the end, with a hit film for all.

First-time feature director Graham Denman is aided by quite a talented cast for Greenlight, and he makes great use of their talents. This behind the scenes Hollywood tale, which Denman is credited with the story for, is quite a dark, twisted yarn, layered with many in-jokes for those who have worked in the industry or are just familiar with the moviemaking process.

Greenlight shows Graham Denman as a talent to keep an eye out for. If he can make such an entertaining and well-made flick with assumedly limited resources, I look forward to seeing what he’ll do in the years ahead with bigger budgets at his disposal.

Recommended if you liked: 8MM, Thesis, The Crow

Final Grade: A-

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