Netflix R-Rated Psychological Thriller Gives Marvel Star Their Best Role
By now, you’re almost certainly aware of Brie Larson due to her front-and -center appearances in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Despite some of her outings with the MCU failing to meet critical high points Larson’s Carol Danvers, AKA Captain Marvel, is still expected to be an important part of the next phase of Avengers films. But long before she took on the task of punching Thanos directly in his enormous wrinkled face, Larson was taking on other monsters in films such as 2015’s Room, which is streaming on Netflix as of August 1.
Oh Hi Brie!
Room, not to be confused with the similarly named so-bad-it’s-good classic The Room from 2003, is a critically acclaimed mystery thriller contained almost entirely in one claustrophobic location. The film hinges on the stellar performances of Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay, who was only 8-years-old at the time of filming.
Room provided Brie Larson with her first leading performance in a feature film, catapulting her career to A-list status, and paving the way for her to appear in such followups as Kong: Skull Island, Fast X, and of course, numerous installments in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
The Filmmakers
Irish-Canadian playwright and author Emma Donoghue penned the screenplay for Room, based on her 2010 novel of the same title.
Though the visceral writing and intense character dynamics of the project led many fans to believe the film was based on a true story, Donoghue has remained clear that the characters and situations in Room are fictional, though she did draw inspiration from a handful of horrific news stories regarding victims of kidnapping and human trafficking.
Irish filmmaker Lenny Abrahamson directed the movie, earning him his first flurry of Academy Award nominations.
The Room
The narrative of Room centers on a young woman named Joy Newsome (Larson) and her 5-year-old son Jack (Tremblay), as they spend their days living inside a tight, cramped shed, which they exclusively refer to as “Room.”
Most of the film is presented from Jack’s perspective, as he interprets the room to be the entire world, having never ventured outside of the confined area in his entire life.
Of course, as the narrative unfolds, the audience begins to learn more and more about how and why the duo have come to live in this bizarre arrangement.
Incredible Performances
I won’t discuss much of the plot here because I’d like to avoid as many spoilers as possible. Like many thrillers, Room is best enjoyed with very little knowledge of the plot previously in mind, so be sure to go in blind if you haven’t already seen it.
Regardless, the real selling point of this claustrophobic nightmare of a narrative is the impeccable performances, especially from Brie Larson, who took home an Oscar for Best Actress.
Stream It Now
GFR SCORE
Looking back with nearly 10 years of hindsight, it’s easy to see why Room was critically lauded upon release, amassing a critic score of 93 percent on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film offers some truly horrific implications, a compelling mystery element, and a thrilling climax that will leave you squirming in your seat. Those interested in seeing exactly how the narrative unfolds, or those just desperately in need of a rewatch, can catch Room on Netflix as of August 1.
