RIVER PHOENIX'S FINAL FILM TO BE AIRED

Dark Blood will gets its premiere nearly 20 years after the death of Phoenix, aged 23

August 3, 2012, 10:17 am Ben Arnold Yahoo! Movies UK & IE

River Phoenix's last film is to get its premiere almost two decades after his death.

'Dark Blood', which had been left untouched since the actor died in 1993, will get its first ever screening at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht on September 27.

River Phoenix during a 1988 portrait session in Los Angeles, California. Credit: George Rose/Getty Images

In the film, Phoenix plays a young widower called Boy who becomes a recluse after his wife dies as a result of nearby nuclear testing. Obsessed with the end of the world, he then takes a stranded honeymooning couple hostage.

It also stars Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis.

Its Dutch director George Sluizer, who is now suffering from poor health, had mothballed the film, which was four fifths complete at the time of Phoenix's death, but then began finishing it two years ago.

His daughter Anouk said: “My father is ill and he decided to resume the movie's post-production after almost 20 years.

"He had shot about 81 percent and there was enough material to make a suspenseful movie."

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He had hoped to use Phoenix's brother Joaquin to help voice and complete the film.

However, a statement released stated: "Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way."

River Phoenix died in 1993, aged 23, after a drugs overdose at the Viper Room nightclub in Hollywood.

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Melinda02:37pm Friday 03rd August 2012 ESTReport Abuse
I truly feel River was on his way to being a hollywood great. I dont know about cobbling together bits of an unfinnished movie to make somthing watchable, but as his last efforts as an actor perhaps it should be seen. Sure drugs took him but we are talking hollywood, who's not stoned? (Not Melinda)
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Ghost Hunter12:17pm Friday 03rd August 2012 ESTReport Abuse
Some greedy #$%$wipe must have decided that there is some money to be made by 'release' this old film now. An old and BORING subject with an equally BORING 'actor.
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Doug11:53am Friday 03rd August 2012 ESTReport Abuse
It's this strange death effect, for some reason these "junkies" with more money than brains get elevated to some sort of god status after they OD.... Why... if he had lived he would have been old news long ago??
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Jenni11:45am Friday 03rd August 2012 ESTReport Abuse
Hopefully we can het a glimpse of this film at a future festiavl in Australia.looking forward to it x
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Jenni11:44am Friday 03rd August 2012 ESTReport Abuse
Hopefully we can get a glimpse of this film at a future film festival in Australia. looking forward to it x
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