Review of Room (2015) by Kevin P — 21 Dec 2017

Strengths: This was quite the harrowing film. Seeing how Joy (Brie Larson) lives in a tiny room for years with her son is rough enough, but when we see that Old Nick (Sean Bridgers), their captor, returns almost nightly to continue raping Joy, it hits another level. Add in that Jack (Jake Tremblay) is in the closet when these things happen and it becomes extra rough to sit through. The story and script are both high points, but the real success of the movie comes from the performances of Larson and Tremblay. Tremblay does very well for someone his age. Meanwhile, Larson absolutely deserved that Oscar she won for this. She looked the part of someone who had experienced these things. The buildup to their escape was exceptionally done, as was the escape itself. The cinematography and direction are both tremendous. They give this film a unique feel that perfectly matches the story.

Weaknesses: As much as I enjoyed the back half of the film, it lacks the tense and gripping feel of the first half. You're on the edge of your seat as they try to escape the room and overjoyed when they do. Watching them adapt to the world around them is interesting, but doesn't hold you as well as the first half. The storyline surrounding Joy's father (William H. Macy) had potential, but disappeared. He's happy his daughter returned, but won't even look at Jack, most likely because he was conceived through rape. There was some good tension in the second half with that scene and I'd have loved to see more of Macy and Larson going at it. Instead, once he leaves that scene, he never returns and it feels like a missed opportunity.

Overall: An emotionally gripping story led by phenomenal performances from the leads. The survival aspects of the first half are the best part. A second half with more of a battle between Joy and her father would've been ideal. However, the post-room stuff is still very good, making for a great all around film.