Some movies are disappointing not because they’re poorly made, but because they have so much untapped potential. Case in point: Room, a drama/thriller written and directed by Kyle Henry. It’s clear that Henry has talent as a filmmaker and Room certainly has its moments of fascinating poignance, but the final product is too confusing to be satisfying.
Fascinating Idea, Lackluster Story
The plot focuses on Julia Barker (Cyndi Williams), a middle-aged mother working a dead-end job at a bingo hall. Her sleazy boss is withholding her paycheck, her teenage daughter is out of control, and to top it all off, Julia has been having fainting spells accompanied by visions of a vast, abandoned room. Finally at her wit’s end, Julia decides on a whim to travel to New York to search for the mysterious room that haunts her hallucinations. While she’s there, she encounters a number of bizarre people and situations that seem to lead her, bit by bit, to the source of her problems.
The concept is interesting, but in the end, that’s all it is—a concept. It’s artfully filmed in a style that’s slightly reminiscent of David Lynch, particularly Eraserhead and Inland Empire. But the eerie atmosphere and strange characters that Julia encounters build the tension to a level that the film doesn’t live up to. It’s one thing to leave unanswered questions, but quite another to tease the audience into expecting a grand climax that never arrives.
Banality Punctuated by Brilliance
There’s a handful of fascinating scenes that hint at how great the movie might have been with a bit more focus. A particularly memorable exchange involves Julia’s visit to a tarot reader, a meeting that gradually turns from mysterious to terrifying, only to downshift back into aimless confusion with the next scene. The film mostly involves long stretches of inactivity punctuated by moments of great potential, which ultimately makes the whole experience all the more frustrating.
Room isn’t a bad movie by any means; it’s beautifully filmed with a talented cast and an engaging, if meandering, plot. Cyndi Williams is outstanding in her performance as Julia; even though the character's behavior is erratic to the point of near insanity, the audience never loses sympathy for her. She is a desperate, sad character, and Williams conveys this perfectly. It's also clear that Kyle Henry has a good eye for cinematography; Room's surreal, dreamlike nature comes across very well in his ominous shots of empty streets and creepy, droning music and sound. But in the end, most viewers will likely find themselves wanting something more than the few powerful scenes that it has to offer.
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