Review of In a Bedroom (2012) by Dorene P — 22 Jul 2009

Set in a small coastal town in Maine, In the Bedroom deals with how people cope with tragedy. Without giving too much of the plot away, young Frank (Nick Stahl) gets involved with an older single mom (Marisa Tomei) to the displeasure of his parents and her ex-husband. Tragedy strikes and each person is forced to deal with it in his or her own way.

The beginning of the movie starts off rather slow, and I was lulled into believing that it was just an ordinary conflict and resolution. But after the big turning point, things got a lot more intense in a multitude of ways. Relationships between people become strained, leading to an uncomfortable buildup of tension. Great acting by the ensemble cast (aside from the horrible Maine accents; yes, this is another movie that can't do New England right) brings out the raw emotion in each character. The last part of the movie is surprisingly suspenseful.

Despite the romantic-sounding title, this movie does not feature much in the way of bedroom scenes. It actually refers to the compartment in a lobster trap; supposedly if more than two are caught in there, then they start fighting.

In the Bedroom is an untraditional film that really captures the discomfort and grief that occurs after losing a loved one. The direction and acting really bring out the tension in seemingly mundane situations, which I think is the hallmark of the film. Ultimately though, it doesn't stand out in my mind.