Ryan Gosling's Directorial Debut Will Not Get U.S. Theatrical Release

Ryan Gosling's directorial debut has been hyped for some time, since it featured the first significant post-Doctor Who role for Matt Smith, and the first directorial effort from a man considered to be one of the best actors of his generation. However, after all the anticipation, Warner Bros. has decided not to give it a U.S. theatrical release. Their reasoning?

Well, the movie isn't very good.

Previously titled How to Catch a Monster, Lost River was torn to shreds when it debuted at the Cannes Film Festival back in May, being declared everything from "mouth dryingly lousy" to "colossally indulgent" by critics at the annual ceremony. This, despite a fairly noteworthy cast, which includes Smith, Mad Men star Christina Hendricks, Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. star Iain De Caestecker, Oscar nominee Saiorse Ronan, and Gosling's partner Eva Mendes. Of course, even the best cast couldn't do much to salvage a story centered on a single mother who discovers an underworld, and whose son discovers an underwater town. A story that doesn't appear to be anywhere in evidence in the film's trailer (embedded below).

As if hearing the near-unanimous derision from the critics, Warner Bros. has opted to quietly release the film to home video platforms in April. But, judging by the trailer, I'm not even sure many people are going to want to watch this thing when it hits home video, even if it does have the peculiar appeal of the Eleventh Doctor rapping about his muscles while Agent Fitz runs away from...something. Also a house is on fire, because why not? Check out the full trailer below, and ponder on why this might not be getting a wider release:

Via: RadioTimes