Ryan Gosling’s directorial debut Lost River not getting a theatrical release

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

It's been several months since we've heard any word on Ryan Gosling's directorial debut LOST RIVER (formerly HOW TO CATCH A MONSTER), which premiered to mostly negative reviews in May at the Cannes Film Festival. The film certainly looks interesting judging from the stills and strange teaser we've seen for it, but Warner Bros. must feel that it may not resonate with audiences theatrically as Variety is reporting that the studio has chose to skip a U.S. theatrical release and will instead release LOST RIVER via home entertainment in April.

The film stars Christina Hendricks, Eva Mendes, Matt Smith, Saoirse Ronan and Iain De Caestecker.

Set against the surreal dreamscape of a vanishing city, Billy, a single mother of two, is swept into a macabre and dark fantasy underworld while Bones, her eighteen-year-old son, 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."

LOST RIVER also stars Ben Mendohlson and Barbara Steele.

Several months back Gosling released a statement about the tone and style of the film, stating…

This film was, in a lot ways, a gift from the directors I’ve been working with over the last few years. I’ve gone between acting in films completely based in reality with Derek Cianfrance to the fevered dreams of Nicolas Winding Refn. I think I’ve vacillated between these two extremes because my own sensibilities as a filmmaker lay somewhere in-between.

I'm still curious to check this one out in April despite the negative reviews. That first teaser was enough to intrigue me to wanna peep it.