"Dark blood" is a movie directed by George Sluizer, written by Jim Barton, and starring River Phoenix, Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis. Although filmed back in 1993, it premieres today at the Netherlands Film Festival in Utrecht.
"Dark blood" was previously never completed due to River Phoenix's death on October 31, 1993 -he was 23. With eleven more days of production scheduled, it was abandoned. Because the film could not be finished, producers attempted to sue the late actor's mother for $6 million, claiming he had not declared his drug use. The case later collapsed.
Director George Sluizer said in October 2011 that he had held onto 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. He planned to ask River Phoenix’s younger brother Joaquin Phoenix to do the film's voiceover, by his character, saying the brothers sound alike. The Dutch production company Eyeworks was collaborating with George Sluizer to finish the film and work out legal issues, and said due to copyright issue's the film's title might change. Phoenix's family disputed this claim, saying in a statement, "Despite George Sluizer’s claim that he has been communicating with River Phoenix's family in regard to releasing his last film, Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way".
River Phoenix played Boy, a youthful widower who lives as a hermit on a nuclear testing site, waiting for the end of the world while making dolls that he believes have magical powers. He comes to the aid of a couple, played by Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis, when their car breaks down as they are traveling through the desert of Utah.
"Dark blood" was previously never completed due to River Phoenix's death on October 31, 1993 -he was 23. With eleven more days of production scheduled, it was abandoned. Because the film could not be finished, producers attempted to sue the late actor's mother for $6 million, claiming he had not declared his drug use. The case later collapsed.
Director George Sluizer said in October 2011 that he had held onto 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. He planned to ask River Phoenix’s younger brother Joaquin Phoenix to do the film's voiceover, by his character, saying the brothers sound alike. The Dutch production company Eyeworks was collaborating with George Sluizer to finish the film and work out legal issues, and said due to copyright issue's the film's title might change. Phoenix's family disputed this claim, saying in a statement, "Despite George Sluizer’s claim that he has been communicating with River Phoenix's family in regard to releasing his last film, Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way".
River Phoenix played Boy, a youthful widower who lives as a hermit on a nuclear testing site, waiting for the end of the world while making dolls that he believes have magical powers. He comes to the aid of a couple, played by Jonathan Pryce and Judy Davis, when their car breaks down as they are traveling through the desert of Utah.
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