The film is a simple premise - largely focusing on three characters in one room. A film like this then depends heavily on character rather than story, but alas it isn’t written very well and so fails to deliver (to put it bluntly). The characters feel flat, two-dimensional and kind of meaningless. For example, the villains are uninspiring and not very scary; they just don’t do much; apart from a few moments you sort of just have to take their word that they’re sadistic monsters.
Nevertheless, this could have been salvaged - good actors have done wonders with bad scripts before! - but unfortunately the acting just isn’t up to scratch. It’s not awful but it’s not great either. By the end you can feel a bit of chemistry between the three women but it isn’t enough. This is truly a shame as Red Room could have been an enjoyable hour and a half.
This isn’t the only let down either. Technically wise Red Room plays out more like a student film rather than a professional movie. The cinematography is rather shoddy and the editing is (sorry to be rude) just bad. Considering this is a thriller it doesn’t do much to make it seem that way. Although, I can see where it tries in some places - lack of music, drawn out scenes - and I commend it for trying, but it just goes to show that just because a premise may be simple doesn’t mean it’s easy to pull off.
In terms of the horror there just isn’t enough of it. There are some vicious moments but apart from the literal act of what is happening on screen the film doesn’t do much to create the feeling of shock and horror within the audience. You honestly (not to sound sadistic) get left wanting more bloodshed and torture.
Unfortunately, Red Room just didn’t hit the mark for me. It tries but fails to be an on the edge of your seat thriller and doesn’t go far enough to be the horror it wants to be.