River (2022) by Laurenzo Vergeynst: A Hallucinatory Journey into Addiction

Short Summary: A Muddled Mind's Mission

River is a Belgian psychological thriller and drama that follows a young man who wakes up in a hospital psychiatric ward with no memory of who he is or how he got there. As his memory slowly returns, he recalls a promise he made to his friend, who recently died by suicide, and embarks on a surreal and dangerous mission to help his friend's aunt. The film is a hallucinatory and cynical descent into the mind of an addict, blurring the lines between reality and a drug-fueled psychosis.

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8408364/

Link to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/river-2022 (US), https://www.justwatch.com/uk/movie/river-2022 (UK), https://www.justwatch.com/ca/movie/river-2022 (Canada), https://www.justwatch.com/fr/film/river-2022 (France), https://www.justwatch.com/nl/movie/river-2022 (Netherlands)

Detailed Summary: A Promise and Its Consequences

• The film's protagonist, a young man named River, wakes up in a psychiatric hospital with amnesia after a near-fatal overdose.

• As his memory slowly returns, he recalls the tragic suicide of his best friend, Donny, and a promise he made to him: to help Donny's aunt, who is in some sort of trouble.

• River, determined to fulfill this promise, leaves the hospital and attempts to navigate his past, a journey that is complicated by his fragile mental state and the lingering effects of his drug addiction.

• He is haunted by visions of Donny, who appears to him as a ghost or a hallucination, reminding him of the promise he has yet to keep.

• The narrative follows River as he descends into a chaotic and often surreal world, filled with bizarre characters and situations that challenge his perception of reality. He must confront his own demons and the devastating consequences of his addiction as he tries to complete his mission.

Director's Vision: A Psycho-Thriller of Personal Proportions

Laurenzo Vergeynst's vision for River was to create a "very personal project" that he describes as a "psychotic TRAINSPOTTING." Vergeynst, a self-taught filmmaker, spent five years bringing this film to life. His aim was to craft a slow-burn, masterfully cynical tone that reflects a devastating addiction, both physically and mentally. The film uses a surreal and hallucinogenic style to put the audience directly in the mind of the protagonist, blurring the line between his perception and objective reality. The director sought to tell a story of "luminous redemption" that is constantly in conflict with the protagonist's descent into a personal hell.

Themes: Addiction, The Unreliability of Memory, and Redemption

• Addiction: A central theme is the devastating impact of addiction on a person's life and mind. The film portrays drug addiction not just as a physical problem but as a mental one, a state of being that warps reality and prevents genuine connection and healing.

• The Unreliability of Memory: Due to his amnesia and drug-fueled state, River's memory is a key element of the film's suspense. The film constantly questions what is real and what is a hallucination, making the audience question his reality and his motivations.

• Redemption: The film explores the possibility of redemption, even in the face of immense personal struggle. River's promise to his dead friend is the driving force behind his journey, a potential path to forgiveness and a new life.

Key success factors: Unique cinematic style, an intimate narrative, and a powerful performance

• A Unique Psycho-Thriller: The film stands out in the drama and thriller genres due to its surreal and hallucinatory style, which gives it a distinct and unforgettable feel.

• A Personal Story: As a passion project from a young, self-taught filmmaker, the film has a raw and authentic quality that resonates with audiences.

• A Compelling Lead Performance: The film's success hinges on the performance of its lead actor, Ian Ghysels, who must portray a character grappling with amnesia, addiction, and a fragile hold on reality.

Awards & Nominations: A Festival-Winning Debut

"River" made a significant impression on the film festival circuit, particularly at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, where it received multiple awards and nominations.

• Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival (BIFFF) 2022:

  • Winner: Audience Award.

  • Winner: Silver Méliès (European Méliès Competition).

  • Winner: Silver Raven (International Competition).

  • Winner: Critics Selection Award.

  • Nominee: Black Raven Award.

  • Nominee: Emerging Raven Award.

Summary: "River" was a successful festival contender, winning four awards at the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival, including the Audience Award, Silver Méliès, and Silver Raven.

Critics' Reception: A Masterful, Hallucinatory Psyche-Thriller

Critical reception for "River" has been largely positive, with reviewers praising Laurenzo Vergeynst's directorial debut for its masterful and surreal depiction of addiction and grief.

• "Masterful and Cynical": The film is described as a "masterful" and "deliciously cynical" project from a young, passionate filmmaker. Critics commend Vergeynst for a work that took five years to complete, noting that the "slow maturation" resulted in a unique and confident cinematic vision.

• Psychotic and Hallucinatory: The film is frequently compared to a "psychotic Trainspotting" for its hallucinogenic and surreal tone. It is praised for its "luminous redemption" that is powerfully contrasted with the "inevitable descent into hell of a devastating addiction, both physically and mentally."

• Personal and Emotional: Despite its surreal elements, the film is noted for being a very "personal" project that effectively explores the emotional and psychological toll of drug addiction.

Summary: "River" has been critically well-received, with reviewers celebrating Laurenzo Vergeynst's masterful handling of a difficult subject. The film is praised for its hallucinatory, cynical tone and its powerful, personal look at addiction and redemption.

Reviews: A Journey into a Distorted Memory

Reviews detail the intense and non-linear plot of "River," which follows a young man's struggle to find sobriety and uncover the truth behind his friend's suicide.

• The Protagonist's Crisis: The story opens with 20-year-old River (Ian Ghysels) waking up in a psychiatric ward after a near-fatal drug overdose. He has no memory of how he got there or the events leading up to it.

• The Ghost of a Friend: As River's memory slowly returns, he recalls that his best friend, Donny (Gauthier Deleersnijder), committed suicide. While trying to get clean through a support group, River is haunted in his sleep by the ghost of Donny.

• A Mysterious Promise: Donny's ghost insists that River has not kept a "strange promise," which River cannot remember. This sets River on a mission to dig up his past and understand what happened, blurring the lines between reality and drug-induced hallucinations.

• A Look at Addiction: The film is a dark journey into the mind of an addict, using surreal and psychological thriller elements to portray the devastating effects of drug use on the body and mind. The narrative is driven by a mix of paranoia, grief, and the struggle for sobriety.

• A Quest for Redemption: River's journey to uncover the promise he broke is also a quest for redemption, as he tries to honor his dead friend and free himself from the chemical and mental grip of his addiction.

Summary: "River" is a psycho-thriller about a young man named River who awakens in a psychiatric ward after a drug overdose, with no memory of his past. Haunted by the ghost of his best friend, who recently committed suicide, River must navigate a surreal and hallucinatory world to piece together the events of his past, confront his addiction, and uncover a mysterious promise he was unable to keep.

Why to watch this movie: A Deep Dive into a Troubled Mind

• A Unique and Hallucinatory Experience: If you're looking for a film that is unlike anything you've seen before, River's unique visual and narrative style is a major draw.

• A Powerful Look at Addiction: The film offers a raw and unfiltered look at the psychological and emotional toll of drug addiction.

• A Passion Project: This is a great film to watch if you want to support independent cinema and a young, promising filmmaker.

• For Fans of Psychological Thrillers: If you enjoy films that keep you on the edge of your seat and make you question what is real, River is a perfect fit.

Movie Trend: The Art-House Addiction Film

River fits into the trend of art-house films that explore the topic of drug addiction in a surreal, nonlinear, and highly stylized manner. This trend uses unconventional filmmaking techniques to convey the subjective experience of addiction, moving beyond simple narrative dramas to create a more visceral and psychological portrait of a person's struggle with drugs.

Social Trend: De-stigmatizing Mental Health

The film taps into the social trend of de-stigmatizing mental health and addiction. By placing its protagonist in a psychiatric ward and showing the messy, non-linear path to recovery, the film contributes to a broader cultural conversation about the importance of mental health and the need for compassion and understanding for those who are struggling.

Final Verdict: A Challenging but Rewarding Thriller

River is a challenging but rewarding psycho-thriller that is not for the faint of heart. Its surreal and cynical tone, combined with its slow-burn narrative, requires patience from the viewer. However, those who invest in the film will be rewarded with a powerful and unforgettable experience. It is a bold and impressive debut from Laurenzo Vergeynst and a must-see for anyone who appreciates a film that is unafraid to explore the darkest corners of the human psyche.