Black River

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 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

My wife and I have seen this movie more times than the people who made it. We watch it every night before bed. We even created a Facebook group about it that we are the only two members of. I don't actually know if Black River is a good movie it's just our movie. We quote it to each other daily. Were actually watching it right now. For a TV movie based on a koontz book this thing has legs. I just wish we could connect with like minded black river fans and maybe have a yearly gathering where we.... you guessed it.. watch black river. As I read back this review I think maybe I have gone insane and need to seek help. Or I can just watch it again and when it's over and I get up to pee in the middle of the night I just hit play again. I'm going to get a tattoo of the movie poster.

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"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.

'Black River' appears, at first glance, to have all the nescessary ingredients for a bad horror movie. In fact it turns out to be quite watchable sort of Night-Gallery-ish mystery/SF hybrid.

Put it this way, I didn't figure it out in the first 5 minutes. There is enough mystery and strangeness to keep you interested, even though you get the sensation that you've seen this movie several times before on Ray Bradbury's mystery theatre or something.

Based on a Dean Koontz novella(?), a disillusioned writer leaves LA in search of somewhere to put down roots, and ends up by accident in a small town called Black River, which looks like it's probably in coastal Oregon or northern California. Only trouble is, he can't leave. Every attempt to depart is foiled by some unlikely set of events; many of the locals are just a bit weird, there's a mysterious black van following him around, and so on. Something very strange is going on. Is it supernatural, a government conspiracy, or what?

I won't give it away, though to be honest I didn't think the ending was very credible at all, and rather let the film down.

The acting and production values are better than you might expect. What really keeps the movie in the mid-range, score-wise, is a blandness in the direction. There are times when some spooky atmosphere would have been desired, but the thing unfolds in a workmanlike manner, with not a lot in the way of atmosphere.

There is one thing I want to know, though: at the start of the movie, while still in LA, he is looking for a place to bury his beloved golden retriever. Now, in Black River, a dog keeps turning up who is the spitting image of his old pooch (Koontz has a thing for Golden Retrievers I take it, as there was one in Watchers as well). The thing is, you get the feeling the dog is on his side, and at other time that it's part of the 'conspiracy'. Thinking about it logically, I don't see any way that the latter could be true, though this is eventually implied.

Little things like that bother me. Thankfully though, there were no big things that bothered me about the movie. Quite watchable, but perhaps I'd have been disappointed if it were an overnight rental.

A solid 6 out of 10.