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Lost River
2015 95 min United States of America R 18+
★5.3
Drama, Fantasy, Thriller
Director: Ryan Gosling
Trailers
EN
Teaser
EN
EN
Description
Billy, a single mother of two, is led into a macabre underworld while her teenage son, Bones, discovers a secret road leading to an underwater town. Both Billy and Bones must dive deep into the mystery if their family is to survive.
Budget:
$2M
US Gross:
$45,431
Worldwide:
$45,431
Starring
Christina Hendricks
Actor
Iain De Caestecker
Actor
Saoirse Ronan
Actor
Awards
Cannes Film Festival 2014
— Un Certain Regard
Cannes Film Festival 2014
— Caméra d'Or
Key opinion
Ryan Gosling's directorial debut is a polarizing art-house project praised for its immersive, dreamlike atmosphere and striking visuals, but criticized for its derivative style and narrative thinness. While some viewers appreciate its bold, surrealistic ambition, others find the storytelling and character development superficial and overly reliant on the aesthetic influence of filmmakers like Nicolas Winding Refn and David Lynch.
| Cinematography | Benoît Debie's cinematography and the film's neon-drenched color palette create a visually arresting, atmospheric experience. | |
| Score | The soundtrack is highly effective, providing a cohesive and haunting sonic landscape that complements the film's aesthetic. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative and character development are widely considered weak, with many viewing the story as shallow and overly reliant on style over substance. | |
| Originality | The film feels derivative, with many critics arguing that Gosling leans too heavily on the visual signatures of established directors like Nicolas Winding Refn and David Lynch rather than establishing his own unique voice. | |
| Acting | Opinions on the performances are divided: some find the cast magnetic and well-suited to the surreal tone, while others argue the acting is wooden or that the characters lack the depth to be truly compelling. |