The actor was shooting Dark Blood in 1993 when he died of a heart attack on Halloween night outside the Los Angeles club the Viper Room. Shortly after the incident happened, George Sluizer hid the footage away, fearing that the film would be destroyed. He has now pulled that footage out of storage and re-edited it. He believes that he will be able to deliver a final cut of the film with a few tweaks and adjustments, and a new voice over. River Phoenix was only eleven days away from wrapping the film when he died.
Dark Blood revolves around River Phoenix's character, a hermit that lives on a nuclear test site, awaiting the inevitable end of the world. A famous Hollywood couple seeks out the site for shelter, and River Phoenix's character ends up having an affair with the woman.
George Sluizer plans to have Joaquin Phoenix record the voice-over, as he believes the two brothers sound alike. The director has stayed in close contact with the Phoenix family ever since the death of River Phoenix.
The title may have to be changed due to a copyright claim. George Sluizer hopes to have the film in theaters by 2012. You can check out an unfinished clip from the film below.
You Just Split My Head Open
Dark Blood was released in 2012 and stars River Phoenix, Jonathan Pryce, Judy Davis, Rhonda Aldrich, T. Dan Hopkins, Karen Black, John Trudell, Julius Drum. The film is directed by George Sluizer.
Comments (12)
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Carl Marsh
I hope he does get nominated for an Oscar. If the films comes out.. he should be nominated for all his films...
10 months agoby @Carl-MarshFlag
Carl Marsh
I hope this is true because I`ve been waiting for this for a long time.. and to have Joaquin Phoenix record the voice-over is brill. will been waiting for this one...
10 months agoby @Carl-MarshFlag
bud2fresh
He was at the Viper room watching a band that feat. John Depp and Keanu Reeves. I still remember where i was when i heard he overdossed.So sad he was such a gtreat talent :(
2 years agoby @bud2freshFlag
thedude-abides
I'm in favor of this if it works out. Eighteen years is a long time to relive something.
2 years agoby @thedude-abidesFlag
skywise
Great idea. I willn ever forget River (i mean come on, he was young Indy in The Last Crusade) for the brilliant actor he was. A life cut way to short. But like @moviegeek mentioned, i also wonder what kind of audience this will attract.
And also, the quality of the film will have to be downgraded when filling in those unshot or unfinished scenes. Then again, with tech the way it is they could probably remaster everything and make it look good as new.
2 years agoby @skywiseFlag
ZanyZap
Maybe he'll be nominated for an Oscar. That'd be cool.
2 years agoby @zanyzapFlag
LuxoIII
Sounds interesting. Looking forward to seeing how this turns out!
2 years agoby @brady1138Flag
moviegeek
Uhh.. this sounds weird. Plus, this probably won't get the audience that it would back when he first died. It won't really move anybody to see something so far from the past. Just my opinion.
2 years agoby @moviegeekFlag
CelluloidDreams
Would be great to see!
2 years agoby @2movieguysFlag
Lynda Appell
Sounds like an interesting project for director George Sluizer. wondering why he waited so long. I do hope Joaquin does the voice over. Interested in knowing how he feels about the project.
2 years agoby @Lynda-AppellFlag
Georgia DiPirro
@ghostman I hope so too -- It's still sad -- what great talent
2 years agoby @Georgia-DiPirroFlag
Ghostman
I hope the video quality wont be that bad when it plays in theaters.
2 years agoby @ghostmanFlag