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River Phoenix was in the middle of shooting the film Dark Blood when he died of a drug overdose in 1993 at the age of 23. The film was never finished -- but now that final performance finally may make its way onto movie screens, with some help from River's younger brother Joaquin.
Dutch director George Sluizer, best known for his psychological thriller The Vanishing, tells The Hollywood Reporter that he wants to finish Dark Blood using the original footage from 18 years ago. Sluizer, 79, has re-edited the drama, and believes he can complete the narrative with a voice-over from Joaquin, 36.
"The voices of both brothers are very much alike," says the director, who has stayed in close touch with the Phoenix family over the years.
Of course, Joaquin will have to agree first. And there is the matter of copyrights to the film, which may result in a title change. But, barring any impediments, Sluizer believes the Dark Blood could see the light of day sometime in 2012.
The film itself centers around a superstitious young widower named Boy (Phoenix), who lives in the Arizona desert on a nuclear testing site and waits for the end of the world. When a Hollywood yuppie couple has a car breakdown near his home, Boy takes them prisoner and tries to convince the wife to start a new life with him. The couple is played by Judy Davis and Jonathan Pryce, making for a trio of truly excellent actors at the heart of the odd story. Sluizer has more information and two test clips (including the one below) on his website.
Phoenix, widely considered one of the most talented actors of his generation, died at the age of 23 after taking a lethal combination of heroin and cocaine outside the Viper Room nightclub in Los Angeles. After Dark Blood, he was set to star in the film Interview with the Vampire (in the role that would ultimately be played by Christian Slater).
An Academy Award nominee at age 18 for Running on Empty, Phoenix was on the verge of a significant film career, one that might have even surpassed contemporaries like Johnny Depp and Leonardo DiCaprio. Would Dark Blood have reserved him a place at the 1994 Oscars? There's no turning back the clock -- but the new edit will give us all a glimpse of what could have been.
