“Red River Road” is about as indie as they come. The entire production was a family one made during a COVID lockdown. Although in most locations the lockdown no longer exists and if you believe President Biden of the United States COVID is over. Watching the Schuyler family struggle through the perceived terrors you might even recognize yourself from earlier COVID days.
In this case COVID is not mentioned instead it is some virus propagated over the internet that leads to violence and collapse of the cognition process. Yes there are plenty of Alzheimer moments in “Red River Road”. So the Schuyler boys access their Mom’s iPad and phone and matters become very wonky and threatening. The virus is spread by the internet think the Schuyler family and they are thinking literally so in their thoughts connecting with the internet could be inviting an infection.
Matters progress and Anna Witter (Jade Schuyler) complains of a series of strange dreams. After the access to the internet incident her husband Stephen (Paul Schuyler) vanishes as well as Wyatt Witter (Quinn Schuyler) and Shaw Witter (Sean Schulyer). There is no one left in the Schulyer family aside from Anna. Has the virus hit decimating the family?
And why is there a forcefield surrounding their house. Who is delivering daily food baskets? Why has a chip been implanted in their necks? Who is behind this control causing recipients of “control calls” to flip out in terror.
Sorry no answers here and the writing is complicated enough to prevent “the easy answer”. No I am not buying the “I was feverish so I missed the entire series of events”. That smile between Anna and Paul as the move concludes is a great movie moment. And that bar code on the green hamper may just send chills up your spine.
The film begs the question of whether COVID was the virus or was it the media and government circus that was the actual virus and internet rantings of a cabal of many? Or was the internet demonized by those in power as a method of preventing news from being spread contrary to the “official line”?
A solid mystery raising a whole host of questions it fails explicitly to address giving you that job. It as if there are no grounds for reality in “Red River Road”.
“River Road” will be released on digital platforms on October 4, 2022. You can catch the trailer here https://vimeo.com/588141957
RKS Film Rating 91/100.
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