ROOM

Room is an Independent drama and partial thriller that was released in 2015 and beautifully directed by Lenny Abrahamson. I’m not very familiar with Abrahamson’s works, but I was very impressed with this one.

This touching and moving story is based on a novel written by Emma Donoghue who later wrote the screenplay.

The film begins in a room and more than half of it is centred within that room. A young mother and her young son are living in a tiny dull and shabby room. The only outside view is the sky, and it is through a high skylight that’s permanently locked from the outside. There are a few necessities in the room such as: a small worktop surface, small cupboard, small beaten down microwave, fridge, small table, small wardrobe, bath, toilet, and bed. The only way out is through a locked coded door, and only their prisoner knows the code.

Joy Newsome (Brie Larson), known mostly as ‘Ma’ by her son, was kidnapped 7 years ago, when she was a teenager, and forced to live alone in the room by her abductor, who raped her and paid her regular night “visits” till date. Adorable Jack (Jacob Tremblay) is the result of these frequent “visits”. The temperamental kidnapper shows up once in a while with limited provisions and she keeps her son disconnected and away from him in every way!

To make life more bearable and sensible for innocent Jack, Joy makes up unreal stories about life and the only world that he knows. However, they cannot live in captivity forever. It had been years, but it was time Joy attempted to escape again. Now that Jack was 5 years old, Joy figured he would be the key to helping them gain their freedom. However, she first has to tell him the whole truth! Would he be able to handle it? More so, would he be willing to help out?

The suspense in Room is pure and strong as we’re wholeheartedly rooting for mother and son, even as we wonder if the escape is possible. There’s a lot more to worry about than just escaping the room, though. There’s the difficulty of adjusting to a world that has moved on without you and the adapting and fitting in of a little boy that has never been part of that world.

The deep emotions expressed in the film were moving. In his acting debut, Tremblay showed off great acting skills that made his role and his feelings as Jack very believable and touching. I’m not a fan of Brie Larson as ‘Captain Marvel’, but there’s no doubt that she has great talent. A heart-tugging film, and possibly a tear-jerker for those as sensitive as I am. It’s definitely one worth watching. Rating? 9 out of 10.

Currently available to watch on Netflix. See Trailer below.

For your information:

Director – Lenny Abrahamson

Writer & Screenwriter – Emma Donoghue

Brie Larson as Joy Newsome (Ma)

Previous Works include:

* Mason Weaver in 2017’s adventure film ‘Kong: Skull Island’

* Carol Danvers (Captain Marvel) in 2019’s Marvel superhero fantasy films ‘Captain Marvel’ and ‘Avengers: End Game’

Jacob Tremblay as Jack Newsome

Joan Allen as Joy's mother, Nancy

Previous Work include:

Bonnie Waitzkin in 1993’s American drama ‘Searching for Bobby Fischer’

Sean Bridgers as Old Nick (Nancy's husband)

Previous Work include:

Eldon in 2002’s American romantic-comedy ‘Sweet Home Alabama’

*William H. Macy as Joy's father, Robert

Previous Works include:

* Major Caldwell in 1997’s American action-thriller ‘Air Force One’

* Paul Kirby 2001’s American sci-fi adventure ‘Jurassic Park 3’