I didn't even know that River Phoenix had made a final movie prior to his sudden death in 1993 of drug overdose. But now, THR is saying that the actor, a shining star during his heyday (and truth be told, he could have given Johnny Depp and Robert Downey Jr. a run for their money), shot three weeks of a movie called "Dark Blood" before he died. 

Now, the film is making its North American debut at the Miami International Film Festival even though Phoenix's family said no. But why? Wouldn't they want to share with us his final performance? 

Here's what happened -- in 2007, George Sluizer, the Dutch director behind the movie, was told by his doctors that he didn't have long to live because of aneurysm. So now, Sluizer wanted to showcase his film prior to his own imminent death.

Oh my gosh, how morbid is this movie? And how appropriate that its title is "Dark Blood." 

Phoenix's family spokesperson told THR in 2011 that, “Joaquin Phoenix and his family have not been in communication with the director nor will they participate in any way.” 

Which baffled Sluizer saying, “No one seems to understand that an artist wants to finish his art, just like a painter would want to finish his unfinished painting." The director even called the family's reaction immature, “The family’s response is understandable, but it's an immature point of view.”