You guys, seriously, this movie is a MUST see. I had never heard of it, or even seen a preview for it, until Clay mentioned we should go see it. (Shout out to the Alamo Drafthouse in Omaha for being so close to our home and making our movie-outings frequent!) I watched the trailer and immediately agreed to attend.
I always feel like movie reviews are hard, and I am glad that I do not do this for a living. How much do I tell? I certainly don't want to give anything away. So here goes. Room is a drama-thriller based on the novel (which I have not read) by Emma Donaghue. The premise of the story is that a mother and her son are captives to a creepy man who has been holding them in his garden shed.
Hear me when I say that my very brief summary of the film cannot possibly touch on the range of emotions you will feel while watching it. I have been waiting for a movie to come out that would completely wreck me, and this was absolutely it. I honestly spent half of the movie trying not to sob hysterically, simply because the extent to which you are able to feel every emotion that the film invites you into (which is literally every emotion from terror to elation) is non stop, start to finish. That is not to say that you will not smile.. or even laugh a few times. This movie is heartwarming, but it is also heartbreaking. Room is absolutely captivating. Ma (Brie Larson) and Jack (Jacob Tremblay) are fantastic in their respective roles.
The movie also delves into the aftermath of trauma, abuse and PTSD associated with this kind of experience. Which I found to be very real and interesting.
Conclusion… you must see this movie. If you see ANY movie before the end of the year, make it this one. And if you can walk out of the theater without shedding a tear, hats off to you, because I don't think you stand a chance.
