Riddled with implausibilities, Rogue River will not satisfy those who want to believe and its lack of character development those who want to care.
Although there are ideas which contain potential, they are swiftly brushed aside before being explored to make way for the next method of torment. Outside of these details is a tired and predictable plot, which has its lowest point towards the end, where the escapees make an irrational decision with a consequence so obvious a flashing subtitle would've done just as well.
Whilst the acting is not terrible, with little to flesh out but the usual hints at a trauma background leading to psychosis, very few of the characters' actions make much sense. The narrative is lazy even for those who are not deemed irrational.
It's hard not to assume that most of the budget went on the helicopter for the opening aerial shots, which do a great job explaining the distance and evoking the depth of a history. The landscape is in fact the most promising part of this movie, with the closing shot - a lengthy, low angle retreat - almost a masterpiece in comparison to what led us there. It gives you the impression that the director really wanted to make a different movie.
Rogue River is one of those films to watch whilst doing something else.
Although there are ideas which contain potential, they are swiftly brushed aside before being explored to make way for the next method of torment. Outside of these details is a tired and predictable plot, which has its lowest point towards the end, where the escapees make an irrational decision with a consequence so obvious a flashing subtitle would've done just as well.
Whilst the acting is not terrible, with little to flesh out but the usual hints at a trauma background leading to psychosis, very few of the characters' actions make much sense. The narrative is lazy even for those who are not deemed irrational.
It's hard not to assume that most of the budget went on the helicopter for the opening aerial shots, which do a great job explaining the distance and evoking the depth of a history. The landscape is in fact the most promising part of this movie, with the closing shot - a lengthy, low angle retreat - almost a masterpiece in comparison to what led us there. It gives you the impression that the director really wanted to make a different movie.
Rogue River is one of those films to watch whilst doing something else.