Enter the Room

Harry Waldman did so much with so little (resource-wise) and should be commended for this piece! Limited locations and budget were offset by interesting performances and an even better story-line. Harry is a film maker on the rise, and I can't wait for his next piece! Enter The Room does what so many try to do and fail. The twist at the end took me by surprise, and I'm typically pretty good at predicting those outcomes. If you're looking for a fun horror-thriller wihtout a major time commitment, Enter The Room fits the bill, and then some. Great poster and key art as well. Watch Enter The Room, you won't be disappointed.

Synopsis: Brian (Peter Mastne) is visited by his brother, Jeremy (Rich Holton), who needs a place to stay as he settles into his new city. The two polar opposite personalities begin to clash as Jeremy's presence poses a threat to Brian's way of life.

Review:

Since that synopsis does a great job at recapping the story, I wanted to start off with it. This is a two person show that is confined to this apartment. That adds an element here as being claustrophobic. I'd bet part of that is budgetary, but to be honest, it makes this work better. Even more so with a reveal near the end of this short film. It also is unrelenting. It doesn't waste any time where we see Brian being hard on his brother with setting the ground rules. There's also an interesting element where we never see them getting along. The closest is earlier on, they're watching something together, but Brian goes to bed. The fight then starts.

Something interesting here with the storytelling is that we get a few seconds of Brian tidying up before Jeremy arrives. I thought that was an interesting way to show how neurotic Brian is and then we jump right into these two living together. There are then clues along the way that everything we've heard might not be true. The other element there is not everything is as it seems. There's a montage of Brian accusing Jeremy of different things. When we finally see the truth, it makes these things even more odd since Jeremy denies them throughout.

What makes this work though is the acting performances. Mastne does a great job as seeming like this brother who is doing something nice. He has strict rules, comes off as a 'clean freak' and constantly nags Jeremy. It makes him the 'villain'. That is until we see where things end up. Holton on the other hand seems more jovial and carefree. It is the constant being berated that he has a character shift. What is good here is that by the end, my thoughts on both shift to where they're gray characters. That makes this work for sure.

Let's then discuss filmmaking. First, my disclaimer on how I judge short films is if they tell a complete story or do I need to be more fleshed out. There isn't a right or a wrong way here. I do think this tells a complete story and doesn't need more to be added. There are a couple things that were ambiguous to me and I could have just missed something. That adds to my intrigue though. I thought that the cinematography and framing were good. This becomes an assault on the senses near the end. The editing was good. This flew by and I was hooked to see where it would go. I also thought that the sound track fit what was needed.

In conclusion, this is a solid short film that I thought packed a punch. It has an interesting set up. We think we know these two characters and how things develop shift our perspective on them. The acting helps to bring them to life, so credit to Mastne and Holton. We have a contained setting that works. It builds a claustrophobic atmosphere that is good. The cinematography and framing capture that. This is one that I'd recommend checking out for sure, wherever you find short films.

My Rating: 7.5 out of 10.

Enter the Room is a short film directed by Harry Waldman, focusing on the complex relationship between two brothers, Brian and Jeremy.

The story unfolds as Jeremy, needing a place to stay, moves in with Brian, leading to a clash of their polar opposite personalities. As tensions rise, a traumatic past event is revealed, blurring the lines between reality and Brian's worst nightmares.

The performances by Peter Mastne as Brian and Rich Holton as Jeremy are central to the film's tension and emotional depth. Mastne brings a sense of uptightness and rigidity to Brian, while Holton's portrayal of Jeremy captures the essence of a free spirit struggling to find his place. The chemistry between the two actors is palpable, making their interactions both believable and engaging. However, the acting could benefit from more nuanced expressions to enhance the emotional impact of certain scenes.

Harry Waldman's direction is commendable for creating a tense atmosphere that keeps viewers engaged. The use of close-ups and tight framing effectively captures the claustrophobic nature of Brian's world, emphasizing his discomfort with Jeremy's presence. The pacing is well-balanced, allowing the audience to absorb the unfolding drama without feeling rushed. However, some scenes could be more polished in terms of production quality to elevate the overall cinematic experience.

The film explores several themes, including the impact of past traumas on current relationships and the struggle to maintain a grip on reality when faced with overwhelming stress. It also touches on the idea of how different personalities can clash and affect each other's lives. The theme of reality vs. Nightmare is particularly intriguing, as it leaves the audience questioning what is real and what is part of Brian's paranoia.

Enter the Room is an intriguing short film that effectively combines humor, tension, and drama to create a captivating narrative. While it has room for improvement in terms of production values, the film's ability to evoke a range of emotions and spark reflection on its themes is noteworthy. The performances by Mastne and Holton are strong, and Waldman's direction is effective in building tension and exploring complex family dynamics.

Overall, Enter the Room is a thought-provoking film that lingers in the viewer's mind long after the credits roll. For those interested in psychological dramas with a focus on family dynamics and trauma, Enter the Room is definitely worth watching.