River's 50th Birthday Fundraiser
for Rainforest Trust UK
Via JustGiving
£250.00 raised in River's memory
£250.00 raised in River's memory
FILMOGRAPHY
TELEVISION ROLES
Fantasy - 1980 - (with Rain)
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - 1982 - Guthrie McFadden
Celebrity - 1984 - Jeffie
It's Your Move - 1984 - Brian
Hotel - 1984 - Kevin
Robert Kennedy & His Times - 1985 - Robert Kennedy Jr
Family Ties - 1985 - Eugene Forbes
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - 1982 - Guthrie McFadden
Celebrity - 1984 - Jeffie
It's Your Move - 1984 - Brian
Hotel - 1984 - Kevin
Robert Kennedy & His Times - 1985 - Robert Kennedy Jr
Family Ties - 1985 - Eugene Forbes
TELEVISION MOVIES
Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia - 1984 - Brian Ellsworth
Surviving - 1985 - Phillip Brogan
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama - 1986 - Chris Benfield
Surviving - 1985 - Phillip Brogan
Circle of Violence: A Family Drama - 1986 - Chris Benfield
BIG SCREEN MOVIES
Explorers - 1985 - Wolfgang Muller
Stand By Me - 1986 - Chris Chambers
The Mosquito Coast - 1986 - Charlie Fox
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon - 1988 - Jimmy Reardon
Little Nikita - 1988 - Jeff Grant
Running on Empty - 1988 - Danny Pope/Michael Manfield
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade - 1989 - Young Indy
I Love You to Death - 1990 - Devo Nod
My Own Private Idaho - 1991 - Mike Waters
Dogfight - 1991 - Edward Baines Birdlace
Sneakers - 1992 - Carl Abergast
Dark Blood - 1993 - Boy (unfinished)
The Thing Called Love - 1993 - James Wright
Silent Tongue - 1994 - Talbot Roe
Stand By Me - 1986 - Chris Chambers
The Mosquito Coast - 1986 - Charlie Fox
A Night in the Life of Jimmy Reardon - 1988 - Jimmy Reardon
Little Nikita - 1988 - Jeff Grant
Running on Empty - 1988 - Danny Pope/Michael Manfield
Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade - 1989 - Young Indy
I Love You to Death - 1990 - Devo Nod
My Own Private Idaho - 1991 - Mike Waters
Dogfight - 1991 - Edward Baines Birdlace
Sneakers - 1992 - Carl Abergast
Dark Blood - 1993 - Boy (unfinished)
The Thing Called Love - 1993 - James Wright
Silent Tongue - 1994 - Talbot Roe
DARK BLOOD
River's final movie (unfinished)
Dark Blood is a 2012 American-Dutch thriller film directed by George Sluizer, written by Jim Barton, and starring River Phoenix, Judy Davis, and Jonathan Pryce. The film was not completed due to the death of Phoenix shortly before the end of the project (it would also be the final film made by Sluizer) and remained unfinished for 19 years. It was the last movie to feature the late River Phoenix and the only one where Phoenix himself played the villain.
The film follows Boy (Phoenix), a young widower, who retreats to the desert after his wife dies of radiation following nuclear tests near their home. Boy is waiting for the end of the world and carves Kachina dolls, believing they contain magical powers. A couple, Harry (Pryce) and Buffy (Davis) travel to the desert on a second honeymoon in an attempt to save their marriage. Their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the couple is rescued by Boy. Boy holds them prisoner because of his desire for Buffy and his ambition to create a better world with her.
The film follows Boy (Phoenix), a young widower, who retreats to the desert after his wife dies of radiation following nuclear tests near their home. Boy is waiting for the end of the world and carves Kachina dolls, believing they contain magical powers. A couple, Harry (Pryce) and Buffy (Davis) travel to the desert on a second honeymoon in an attempt to save their marriage. Their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere and the couple is rescued by Boy. Boy holds them prisoner because of his desire for Buffy and his ambition to create a better world with her.
Dark Blood poster
Cast
River Phoenix as Boy
Judy Davis as Buffy
Jonathan Pryce as Harry
Karen Black as Motel woman
T. Dan Hopkins as Joe Tapesi
Lorne Miller as Mute youth
Julius Drum, John Trudell, Rodney A. Grant, George Aguilar as Native Americans
Directed by George Sluizer
Produced by Daniel Lupi, Jeannie Neill, Nik Powell, JoAnne Sellar, Stephen Woolley
Written by Jim Barton
Music by Florencia di Concilio, James Michael Taylor
Cinematography by Edward Lachman
Edited by Martin Walsh, Michiel Reichwein
Production Company
Scala Productions (1993)
Fine Line Features (1993)
Sluizer Films (2012)
Release Dates
September 27, 2012 (private audience, NFF)
Running Time
86 minutes
Country
United States
Netherlands
Language
English
River Phoenix as Boy
Judy Davis as Buffy
Jonathan Pryce as Harry
Karen Black as Motel woman
T. Dan Hopkins as Joe Tapesi
Lorne Miller as Mute youth
Julius Drum, John Trudell, Rodney A. Grant, George Aguilar as Native Americans
Directed by George Sluizer
Produced by Daniel Lupi, Jeannie Neill, Nik Powell, JoAnne Sellar, Stephen Woolley
Written by Jim Barton
Music by Florencia di Concilio, James Michael Taylor
Cinematography by Edward Lachman
Edited by Martin Walsh, Michiel Reichwein
Production Company
Scala Productions (1993)
Fine Line Features (1993)
Sluizer Films (2012)
Release Dates
September 27, 2012 (private audience, NFF)
Running Time
86 minutes
Country
United States
Netherlands
Language
English
PLOT
The movie begins with Harry (Pryce), an up-and-coming actor, and his wife Buffy (Davis) on their "second honeymoon". After staying overnight at a motel, the owner (Black) informs Harry of previous nuclear testing taking place in the town. The following day, their Bentley car eventually breaks down, leading them to run out of water in the middle of the desert. Harry has the idea to stay put with their car rather than to look for help. While Harry sleeps in the back seat, Buffy notices a light in the distance and follows it, leading her to the front door of a barn belonging to a widower named Boy (Phoenix). After mentioning he is 1/8 Hopi native American, Boy reveals a cave filled with candles and voodoo dolls that he believes have magical powers, which he spends his time making Kachina dolls, waiting for the world to end.
During their stay, Buffy and Boy become attracted to each other, angering Harry. Harry tells Boy to leave her alone while on a shooting hunt. The two have an argument and Boy retreats, leaving Harry to find his way back. Boy later attempts to shoot him only to miss. Eventually, the couple become aware that Boy will not let them leave.
After a couple of violent outbursts from Boy, including an act of seducing Buffy in his cave, Buffy decides to sleep with Boy to entice him to let the couple leave, an act that proves futile. At one point, Harry is punished by Boy, after hitting him with a crowbar, by means of a kangaroo court; Boy locks Harry in a dark shed where he later witnesses Buffy removing her clothes in the shack. Outraged by these events, Harry attacks Boy with an axe only for Boy to block the axe's blow with his rifle above his head. However, unable to withstand Harry's strength, the axe hits Boy knocking him to the ground. In act of self-defense Harry is forced to fatally wound Boy's dog when it tries to attack him. Boy gets to his feet, telling Harry that he has never wanted to kill a man before, his finger on the trigger of the rifle. Boy then collapses from a bleeding head wound.
Later, Harry and Buffy's car is delivered to the shack by a group of Native American mechanics from a nearby town; Harry does not believe Boy when he offers this information. A short time later, Boy dies from his injury. The Native Americans carry Boy and his dead dog into the shack and proceed to burn it down, telling Harry and Buffy to leave.
PRODUCTION
Dark Blood consisted of roughly five weeks of on location shooting in Torrey, Utah and was scheduled to complete three weeks of filming interior scenes in Los Angeles, California on a sound stage. Filming was only 80% finished before Phoenix's death on October 31, 1993. Production halted while insurers and financiers tried to determine if the movie could be completed, but with important scenes still needing to be shot the film was abandoned on November 18, 1993. For the 2012 release, roughly four to six missing scenes were replaced with Sluizer providing narration.
It was revealed in October 2011 that director George Sluizer had held onto the footage, fearing it would be destroyed, and that he had reedited the material and believed that with some adjustments a completed film could be released in 2012. It was speculated that Sluizer would ask Phoenix's younger brother Joaquin Phoenix to dub River's voice. The Phoenix family made it clear that they wouldn't participate in the project, saying in a statement, "In regard to releasing River's last film, Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way.”
On May 18, 2012, a trailer for the film and an interview with Sluizer were released on YouTube. The film premiered to an invited audience on September 27, 2012, at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands. It had its international premiere out of competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2013. It was also shown at the Miami International Film Festival in March 2013, the Split Film Festival in September 2013, and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April 2014.
The movie begins with Harry (Pryce), an up-and-coming actor, and his wife Buffy (Davis) on their "second honeymoon". After staying overnight at a motel, the owner (Black) informs Harry of previous nuclear testing taking place in the town. The following day, their Bentley car eventually breaks down, leading them to run out of water in the middle of the desert. Harry has the idea to stay put with their car rather than to look for help. While Harry sleeps in the back seat, Buffy notices a light in the distance and follows it, leading her to the front door of a barn belonging to a widower named Boy (Phoenix). After mentioning he is 1/8 Hopi native American, Boy reveals a cave filled with candles and voodoo dolls that he believes have magical powers, which he spends his time making Kachina dolls, waiting for the world to end.
During their stay, Buffy and Boy become attracted to each other, angering Harry. Harry tells Boy to leave her alone while on a shooting hunt. The two have an argument and Boy retreats, leaving Harry to find his way back. Boy later attempts to shoot him only to miss. Eventually, the couple become aware that Boy will not let them leave.
After a couple of violent outbursts from Boy, including an act of seducing Buffy in his cave, Buffy decides to sleep with Boy to entice him to let the couple leave, an act that proves futile. At one point, Harry is punished by Boy, after hitting him with a crowbar, by means of a kangaroo court; Boy locks Harry in a dark shed where he later witnesses Buffy removing her clothes in the shack. Outraged by these events, Harry attacks Boy with an axe only for Boy to block the axe's blow with his rifle above his head. However, unable to withstand Harry's strength, the axe hits Boy knocking him to the ground. In act of self-defense Harry is forced to fatally wound Boy's dog when it tries to attack him. Boy gets to his feet, telling Harry that he has never wanted to kill a man before, his finger on the trigger of the rifle. Boy then collapses from a bleeding head wound.
Later, Harry and Buffy's car is delivered to the shack by a group of Native American mechanics from a nearby town; Harry does not believe Boy when he offers this information. A short time later, Boy dies from his injury. The Native Americans carry Boy and his dead dog into the shack and proceed to burn it down, telling Harry and Buffy to leave.
PRODUCTION
Dark Blood consisted of roughly five weeks of on location shooting in Torrey, Utah and was scheduled to complete three weeks of filming interior scenes in Los Angeles, California on a sound stage. Filming was only 80% finished before Phoenix's death on October 31, 1993. Production halted while insurers and financiers tried to determine if the movie could be completed, but with important scenes still needing to be shot the film was abandoned on November 18, 1993. For the 2012 release, roughly four to six missing scenes were replaced with Sluizer providing narration.
It was revealed in October 2011 that director George Sluizer had held onto the footage, fearing it would be destroyed, and that he had reedited the material and believed that with some adjustments a completed film could be released in 2012. It was speculated that Sluizer would ask Phoenix's younger brother Joaquin Phoenix to dub River's voice. The Phoenix family made it clear that they wouldn't participate in the project, saying in a statement, "In regard to releasing River's last film, Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way.”
On May 18, 2012, a trailer for the film and an interview with Sluizer were released on YouTube. The film premiered to an invited audience on September 27, 2012, at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht, Netherlands. It had its international premiere out of competition at the 63rd Berlin International Film Festival on 14 February 2013. It was also shown at the Miami International Film Festival in March 2013, the Split Film Festival in September 2013, and the Brussels International Fantastic Film Festival in April 2014.
PHOTOS
February 14 2013 - 63rd Berlin International Film Festival
February 14 2013 - 63rd Berlin International Film Festival
Click image for full view
GEORGE SLUIZER
25 June 1932 – 20 September 2014
You are missed, Mr Sluizer……. Thank you
25 June 1932 – 20 September 2014
You are missed, Mr Sluizer……. Thank you
OTHER
The Thing Called Love: A Look Back - DVD - 2006 - Archive Footage - Himself
The 77th Annual Academy Awards - TV - 2005 - Archive Footage - Himself
Indiana Jones - DVD - 2003 - Archive Footage - Himself
The Making of 'Sneakers' - DVD - 2003 - Archive Footage - Himself
Walking the Tracks: The Summer of 'Stand By Me' - DVD - 2002 - Archive Footage - Himself as Chris Chambers
Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles - 1994 - Special Dedication
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues - 1993 - Special Dedication
Real Kids - Warm-up act - 1980 - With Rain
The 77th Annual Academy Awards - TV - 2005 - Archive Footage - Himself
Indiana Jones - DVD - 2003 - Archive Footage - Himself
The Making of 'Sneakers' - DVD - 2003 - Archive Footage - Himself
Walking the Tracks: The Summer of 'Stand By Me' - DVD - 2002 - Archive Footage - Himself as Chris Chambers
Interview With The Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles - 1994 - Special Dedication
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues - 1993 - Special Dedication
Real Kids - Warm-up act - 1980 - With Rain
AWARDS/NOMINATIONS
1983
Nominated for Best Young Actor in a New Television Series for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Young Artists Awards.
1984
Won Best Young Actor in a Drama Series for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Young Artists Awards.
1985
Nominated for Best Young Actor in a Television Movie for Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (he shared this nomination with Joaquin) - Young Artists Awards.
1986
Won Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Movie for Explorers - Young Artists Awards.
Won Best Actor in a Television Series or Special for Surviving - Young Artists Awards.
1987
Won the Special Jackie Coogan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Through Movies for Stand By Me (he shared this award with Will Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell and Corey Feldman - Young Artists Awards.
1988
Won Best Young Male Superstar in Movies for Mosquito Coast - Young Artists Awards.
Won Best Supporting Actor for Running On Empty - National Board of Review.
1989
Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Running On Empty - Academy Awards (Oscars).
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Movie for Running On Empty - Golden Globes.
1991
Won Volpi Cup for Best Actor for My Own Private Idaho - Venice Film Festival.
1992
Won Best Male Lead for My Own Private Idaho - Independent Spirit Awards.
Won Best Actor for My Own Private Idaho - National Society of Film Critics Awards.
Nominated for Best Young Actor in a New Television Series for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Young Artists Awards.
1984
Won Best Young Actor in a Drama Series for Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - Young Artists Awards.
1985
Nominated for Best Young Actor in a Television Movie for Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia (he shared this nomination with Joaquin) - Young Artists Awards.
1986
Won Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Movie for Explorers - Young Artists Awards.
Won Best Actor in a Television Series or Special for Surviving - Young Artists Awards.
1987
Won the Special Jackie Coogan Award for Outstanding Contribution to Youth Through Movies for Stand By Me (he shared this award with Will Wheaton, Jerry O'Connell and Corey Feldman - Young Artists Awards.
1988
Won Best Young Male Superstar in Movies for Mosquito Coast - Young Artists Awards.
Won Best Supporting Actor for Running On Empty - National Board of Review.
1989
Nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Running On Empty - Academy Awards (Oscars).
Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Movie for Running On Empty - Golden Globes.
1991
Won Volpi Cup for Best Actor for My Own Private Idaho - Venice Film Festival.
1992
Won Best Male Lead for My Own Private Idaho - Independent Spirit Awards.
Won Best Actor for My Own Private Idaho - National Society of Film Critics Awards.
