Black River

Normally I've got some investment or interest in a movie before sticking it on, but Black River I went into completely blind. It was simply an algorithm recommendation to me and the synopsis, while not exactly original, sounded vaguely appealing.

I'll admit my heart sunk fairly early on when I was greeted with Dean Koontz name in the credits. Now, I actually quite enjoy Koontz work, but very rarely does it translate well to movie form. Indeed movies based on his works make his rival Stephen King look prolifically successful movie wise.

The movie follows Bo Aitkens (Jay Mohr) a moderately successful Hollywood author leaving LA behind in search of a quieter life following his divorce. While passing through the small town of Black River he is pulled over by the police and sent to the cells. Local Chief Salks (Ron Canada) lets him our and apologises for his erroneous arrest, but informs him his car has been impounded.

Stuck in the town, he encounters its eccentric Mayor Tomas (Stephen Tobolowsky), diner worker Mandy (Ann Cusack) and her recently discovered sister Laura (Lisa Edelstein) but starts receiving menacing phonecalls from someone calling himself Pericles instructing him what he can and cannot do. While menaced by a black SUV and thwarted at every attempt to leave the town by various fantastic means. He sets out to try and find out the town's mysterious secret and put an end to his imprisonment in the town.

Black River is a very strange movie to try and convey my feelings on. It becomes clear we are dealing with a TV movie within seconds, and I always feel like these deserve a bit of a break. These aren't made with huge budgets or great resources, and in all honesty most involved probably never really imagined it would be getting viewed after the initial broadcast, let alone over 20 years later.

Mohr is an actor I know I've seen in several movies, and while I can't name any of them, I feel like he's usually cast as the protagonist's rival for the affections of the female lead, or a jock. Here as a lead...he's a mixed bag. I mean he is working with less than spectacular material, but I'm not convinced we missed out on a great star here. Interestingly, his best moments are the couple of comedy spots which he's a lot more natural at, and even impressive with the timing and facial expressions on.

The rest of the cast? Well, they're tv actors. I don't mean that inherently as an insult, but don't expect anything memorable. Passable, but don't expect to come out looking these guys up for further viewing.

The plot is...I mean if you've watched any sci fi, horror or fantasy tv show in the last 30 years, you've seen an episode with this premise, give or take the antagonist. This doesn't reinvent the wheel, and is silly in places - when Bo tries to leave on foot where do those things that stop him come from? But it's all a rather tired trope. I found it passable, but nothing gripped me, and I feel like in a week's time I'll have forgotten almost all of it.

Still, it's not bad. Had I came across it on tv at original broadcast date I daresay I'd have enjoyed it a bit more. I couldn't honestly recommend seeking it out, but as far as tv movies go? It's a passable waste of time.

BLACK RIVER is a great retelling of old TV show episodes, like the "Star Trek" episode where Kirk eventually discovers the townsfolk have been worshiping a computer in a cave. Koontz, who over the years has turned into the best of the three major horror writers with a series of novels that have become downright metaphysical, obviously loves "The Twilight Zone" and "Star Trek" and probably "The Outer Limits." Jay ("Jerry McGuire") Mohr is a writer, originally from Vermont, who has become disillusioned with Los Angeles, and checks out a small Pacific Northwest town only to find he can't leave. Cameras are mounted on every traffic light, in every store and dwelling, and monitor everyone's movements while an unseen hand apparently controls the whole thing. Mohr is excellent as the frustrated prisoner, and is backed up by stellar performances from Ann (sister of Joan and John) Cusack as a too-happy waitress and Lisa ("House, MD") Edelstein as her architect sister who also has become trapped in the bucolic town of Black River. Other than what appears to be a limited budget and the fact it was clearly shot in Canada or some place other than the U.S., it is hard to tell this is a TV movie and not a theatrical release. The writing is first rate, and the actors have a ball with their roles in this old-fashioned paranoia thriller. Highly recommended. I can't wait for Hollywood to adapt any of Koontz's more recent output, which eschew standard horror plots in favor of near-transcendental stories interlaced with intermittent bouts of action.

Yes, first and foremost, DO NOT even look at the titles here because you can always count on some Dip$h*t Numbnut giving everything away, just in their title. So, just a kind warning...

A basically good story, fairly decently executed. The main guy is OKAY in his role. The supporting characters I thought were actually better. But, even so... a fairly clever idea moderately well executed. I think that if the writing and direction had been just a little sharper, then this story could have had more impact, but the idea is good.

Again, a moderately entertaining Telefilm based upon a Stephen King short story, one of his more fun ones.

It you are not expecting full theatre grade quality and enjoy a good little mystery of what the hell is going on in this town, then you should enjoy this movie somewhat.

Again, DO NOT read the other review titles unless you want the entire story SPOILED!

Yes I can be a bit snotty sometimes about movies, but this obvious mini movie (scenes fade black for the ads) made for enjoyable if semi-predictable viewing. Call me naive but this did last the distance interest wise for me. Maybe my 'Big Brother' dark side was calling? Comparisons to the more darkly humourous 'U-Turn' immediately rise, but what the hell, its' an engrossing subject trapped inside a crazy town... I hope I'm not the only one? Was it just me or everytime Jay Mohr, (seen him before on something?) actually had a good facial expression, they pull a wierd camera angle and lose it? Lisa Edelstien has an attractive allure and made her character the most believable in my opinion. Overall worthwhile, with time to kill afterwards... 6/10

"Black River" is a made-for-TV movie released in 2001, adapted from Dean Koontz's novella. The film, while not necessarily groundbreaking in the realm of psychological thrillers, does provide a compelling narrative that explores the mysteries and idiosyncrasies of small-town life with an effective blend of suspense and intrigue.

"Black River" follows Bo Aikens (Jay Mohr), a young man who stumbles upon the eponymous town when his car breaks down. Almost instantly, he finds himself drawn into the town's strange charm and eerily pleasant residents, especially the alluring and mysterious Laura (Lisa Edelstein). However, things start to take a strange turn when he realizes he cannot leave the town, and the once charming place begins to reveal a much darker side.

Jay Mohr delivers a solid performance as Bo, successfully portraying the confusion, intrigue, and desperation of a man trapped in an inexplicably perplexing predicament. Lisa Edelstein stands out with her nuanced portrayal of Laura, instilling her character with an engaging blend of mystery, allure, and dread.

The script, adapted from Dean Koontz's novella, is tightly woven, and while the premise of a strange town trapping its inhabitants isn't entirely original, it's executed well. The screenplay excels at creating suspense, often leaving viewers on edge as Bo attempts to unravel the town's secrets.

Visually, the movie leverages the quaintness of the small-town setting to heighten the unease. The cinematography skillfully juxtaposes the town's beauty and charm against the sinister undertones that gradually unravel.

However, "Black River" does have its shortcomings. The supporting characters can sometimes feel one-dimensional, and the pacing can occasionally falter. Additionally, the resolution may not be satisfactory for some viewers, as it leans more towards an open-ended and ambiguous conclusion rather than a neat, definitive ending.

In conclusion, "Black River" is a decent psychological thriller that effectively portrays the eerie mystique of small-town life. While it may not completely redefine the genre, it offers enough suspense and intrigue to keep viewers invested. If you're a fan of Dean Koontz's work or enjoy psychological thrillers set in remote, strange towns, "Black River" could be an enjoyable watch.