Horror. Directed by Michael Hurt. Starring Christine Taylor, Jerry O'Connell, Shane Brolly, Ellie Cornell, Chloe Moretz.
Now, this is the kind of effort I like to see. A small budget effort with quality acting, an interesting story, and decent special effects but not relying on them completely to carry the film. having said that, this is not an outstanding film, but it is well above your standard direct to video fare that is the lifeblood of we horror movie fans.
The film starts off with us being introduced to Amy (Christine Taylor) who has recurring nightmares involving hospitals and can't seem to say yes when her live in boyfriend (Shane Brolly) pops the big question. We don't immediately know why Amy is so hesitant, but it soon seems as if she might have made a mistake in that regard as the two of them are involved in an accident with a pickup truck with a nicer than you would think driver (Jerry O'Connell). Amy's boyfriend and the girlfriend of O'Connell's character are whisked away to the hospital. And there is the beginning of the mystery as they are not told where they are going, and poor Amy has to search for her boyfriend. As traumatic as this sounds, its not even the half of it, as Amy continues to have hallucinations, particularly the kind that have othewise normal looking people morph into demons. And, to boot, when Amy does get a call from her boyfriend with the name of the hospital he is in, it seems that said hospital bruned down about eighty years ago. Finally, Amy has to deal with the obnoxious mother (Ellie Cornell) of one of Amy's students (Chloe Moretz) who insists that her child can help Amy.
Yes, and, from what we see of his treatment in the hospital, its just as well because something is not quite right there. Rude (if sexy) nurses, disinterested doctors, over medicating the patients. In fact, it seems as if this hospital is just one in Amy's recurring nightmare.
Look, it is tough to right a real thorough review for a film like this without spoiling it for those who have not seen it. I will say that it is pretty clear what some of the symbolism means and, no, its not new. But, really, what is new when we come to themes of life/death and what comes next? Please, you young ones, don't try to tell me that the Sixth Sense was the first one to do that, this is a common theme, with many variations, from the dawn of movies and the theater. The real questions is whether Room 6 is a good flick and I think it is. There is some gore, but its not over the top nor shocking for the fan of this genre, and I don't think it was meant to be scary so much as to get the audience to think and get into the story.
The acting is miles above what you see in your typical direct to video horror flick, although, personally, I could have done with a little less screaming from Taylor. O'Connell is hard to peg in his performance, which makes it good because that is the whole point of his character. The rest of the supporting cast is very good as well.
I think the movie might have tried to put too many themes and side stories into it for the plot to flow as smoothly as it could have. So, you won't be amazed, you probably won't be scared, and you definitely won't be suprised at where this film is going...but I believe that you will enjoy this movie if you give it a chance.
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