The Room (Film)

The Room (Turkish: Oda) is a 2019 science fiction thriller film co-produced by France, Belgium, and Luxembourg, directed by Christian Volckman. It stars Olga Kurylenko and Kevin Janssens. The film follows a couple who move to New Hampshire to start a new life and discover a secret room in their home that instantly materializes any desire spoken aloud. The narrative explores themes such as the limits of desire, the perception of reality, and family dynamics. Upon its release, it attracted attention for its original concept and the tense atmosphere it created.

The film begins with the young couple Kate and Matt, seeking to escape the stresses of life in New York, relocating to an old mansion in rural New Hampshire. During renovations, they discover a hidden room within the house. This room has the power to instantly manifest anything spoken within it. Initially captivated by the magic of this extraordinary discovery, the couple soon confronts the room’s dark consequences. In particular, Kate’s desire to have a child leads her to use the room to create a baby, resulting in unexpected and dangerous outcomes. Every object and being generated by the room rapidly ages upon interaction with the outside world, compelling the couple to question the room’s secrets and potential threats.

• Desire and Its Consequences: The film examines the boundaries of human desire and the unforeseen, often negative outcomes that arise when these desires are fulfilled without restraint.
• Reality and Illusion: Whether the objects and child created by the room are truly real remains a persistent source of tension throughout the film, challenging the boundary between perception and illusion.
• Family and Responsibility: The parental roles Kate and Matt assume toward the “room children” and the moral and practical responsibilities this entails form a central theme of the film.
• Nature and Artificiality: The fact that everything created by the room does not follow natural processes and deteriorates upon contact with the external world highlights the contrast between the natural and the artificial.
• Mystery and Discovery: The central mystery of the hidden room and its secrets sustains curiosity and tension through the characters’ journey of exploration.

The film was directed by Christian Volckman. The screenplay was written by Christian Volckman, Eric Forestier, and Gaia Guasti. Cinematography was handled by Reynald Capurro, and the score was composed by Raf Keunen. With an estimated budget of approximately 4,000,000 €, the film has a runtime of 97 minutes. Shot in English, it is a co-production of France, Belgium, and Luxembourg. The Room was released in France on 19 June 2019.

• Olga Kurylenko as Kate
• Kevin Janssens as Matt
• Joshua Wilson as Shane

After screening at various international film festivals, the film entered commercial release. It garnered particular attention for its original premise and the atmosphere it created. Its hybrid structure, blending science fiction and thriller elements, aimed to reach diverse audiences.