Rogue River (2012)

Directed by: Jourdan McClure | 82 minutes | horror, thriller | Actors: Michelle Page, Michael Rooker, Lucinda Jenney, Bill Moseley, Art Alexakis, Chris Coy, Michael Cudlitz

What is it with those American villages in the countryside? According to the American film industry, it is better to live in a crowded city. There are also psychopaths, serial killers and other scum walking around, but ‘normal’ people also live there. In ‘Rogue River’ it is doom and gloom in the countryside again. Remote villages are populated by weirdos with little good in mind. The apparently friendly Jon Wall is the perfect example of this. Behind his friendly appearance hides a perverted monster.

‘Rogue River’ tells about Mara (Michelle Page). This young woman travels to Oregon’s Rogue River to scatter the ashes of her recently deceased father. When she wants to scatter the remains in the river, she is tapped on the shoulder by one Jon Wall (Bill Moseley). She must first apply for a permit if she wants to grant her father’s last wish. Mara then decides to drive home, but when her car doesn’t start, she sees no other way out to drive with Jon to his house. Once there, Mara meets Jon’s sister Lea (Lucinda Jenney). Mara soon discovers that something is not right with this family.

It soon becomes clear that something isn’t right with Jon and Lea. The way in which brother and sister derail is the strength of the film. Director Jourdan McClure focuses on building tension and taking the time to unfold the family history. Thanks to the strong playing of Moseley and Jenney – who play two perverted monsters with visible pleasure – the tension remains taut. Page is also on track and knows how to turn the vulnerable Mara into an appealing character.

‘Rogue River’ is a well-made genre film with an equally shocking and idiotic finale. Originally conceived, but far-fetched.