Creepy captivity thriller

By: Kyle Casey, Staff Writer

It is rare that a movie can attract almost every emotion, deliver consistent suspense and offer a rewarding finish, but “Room” does just that.

Starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, “Room” tells the story of the bond between a mother and her son, and the necessity for the strength of a mother in the toughest of times.

The premise of the film centers around Ma (Larson) and Jack (Tremblay), a mother and son who are trapped in a small shed held hostage by an estranged man know as Old Nick.

Ma has been trapped in the room for seven years and Jack is only five, so you do the disturbing math. She decides to tell her son that the room is the entire world. When they watch television, it is coming from another planet. When Old Nick enters the room, he is entering from another planet.

Jack becomes convinced that this small, filthy room is the world. But soon enough, Ma begins to plot an escape and must tell Jack that there is entire world beyond the walls of the room, making for trying times and a confused child.

The time inside the room offers suspenseful and emotional viewing. The eventual post-room story after the escape is filled with even more emotion.

Both Ma and Jack struggle to transition to life outside of “room,” as Jack calls it. Jack deals with the harsh reality that there is an entire world he never knew existed. The post-escape scenes of the film bring Jack to the forefront, and Tremblay delivers a memorable experience worth watching for any filmgoer.

He masterfully captures the emotion of a tough and uncomfortable topic, and offers genuine, heartfelt sentiment throughout. Likewise, Larson delivers the performance of her career, and is coasting toward an Academy Award for Best Actress.

“Room,” nominated for Best Picture at February’s Academy Awards, is one of the most well constructed films of the year. The viewer goes through a roller coaster of emotions, and thanks to premier performances by Larson and Tremblay, there is never a scene in the film that feels forced or improperly delivered.

The end result of two hours of viewing is beyond rewarding, but the bumps along the road to get there can make for a discomforting experience.

I give this film 9 out of 10 stars.

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