Based off the novel of the same name by Emma Donoghue, Room is a film essentially in two halves. The first exploring the horrifying circumstances as captives in a 10 by 10 windowless room that Jack (Jacob Tremblay) and his Ma (Brie Larson) live in before escaping. This is where the second half of the film kicks in, as Jack and Ma adjust to the outside world in very contrasting ways – one is seeing it for the first time while the other is having to readjust.
Due to this structure the film does feel a touch disjointed, but thankfully the performances by Tremblay and Larson are outstanding and worthy of forgiving the film’s structure. Both actors perfectly capture the emotions and stress that one would feel being so suddenly thrust into a unfamiliar environment.
The story of Room is told predominantly through the eyes of Jack as he grows older and becomes more inquisitive about the situation, this keeps the film from becoming too dark. Ultimately the thing the audience takes away from this film is a sense of hope, that despite any horror you may endure you can survive. (JA)
****1/2
