Review of The Room (2003) by Julian T — 31 Aug 2014

While watching 'The Room', I was convinced I was watching what very well might be the worst movie of all time. I was blown away by its incredible ineptitude and borderline surreal stupidity and construction. It is almost unbearable. After the credits had rolled however, my mind started racing, and I became confused as to if this is the worst movie of all time, or some genius next level shit that my feeble human brain could not quite comprehend.

The first questions about this film began creeping into my mind as the movie was ending and the credits had already rolled. Upon inspecting the case and watching the on DVD trailers for the film, it became apparent that it was marketed as a 'black comedy/drama'. What is strange is that (aside from its obvious badness) the film is not funny at all. Some of the testimonials given were quoted as saying 'a riot!' and 'hillarious!'. Now, director Wiseau would not have picked quotes mocking the obvious absurdity of his film. This indicates to me that Wiseau's true intent was to make the most satirical movie of all time. Perhaps so satirical that its incredible ineptness is actually a meticulously constructed and nearly invisible facade. Is this some big practical joke??? Is my mind being freaked???

Upon watching the interview with Tommy Wiseau on the DVD extras in an attempt to make sense of what was spinning in my brain, I found myself believing my theory more and more. The man is either completely insane, or an unbelievable genius. It is one or the other. He goes on to explain his in detail planning of every aspect of the film, which only goes to show that every hair-brained and surrealisticly bizarre moment was shown intentionally. Even within the interview, he speaks of the planned and concrete structure he adhered to while filming, and then in the next sentence, he says something so out there and crazy that the only logical conclusion is that it is supposed to be mindblowingly ironic. There is no other way to explain such blatant, immediate and obvious contradiction.

In this interview, Wiseau goes on to say that 'The Room' must be viewed twice to really get it. Now, as simply a film, 'The Room' does nothing that on surface level needs to be analyzed or puzzled over for more than a half second or so. It is my belief that he is instead referring to the films veiled intent to go so far over everyone's head that no one even recognizes its satire. It seems that there are clues littered about everywhere as to what this movie is really trying to do.

There are two possibilities here. 1) I am seriously over-analyzing what is going on here, and this is one of the most unbelievable pieces of shit to ever be made. 2) It is a carefully constructed and genius piece of next level and avant garde film that is so far advanced in its sense of irony that it is totally over everyone's head, and therefore genius. It could be either, and it is blowing my mind as to which it really is.

Seriously, do yourself a huge favor in watch it. Regardless of which of the two possibilities 'The Room' truly is, it is incredible. If it is just a horrible movie, then it is a great horrible movie, on par with 'Birdemic' and 'Troll 2' as the most dinosauric flops of all time. If it is option 2, then this might be the best movie ever made, and a slice of artistic genius. My God, what did I just watch???