Steinesongo
Too many fans seem to be blown away
Ortiz
Excellent and certainly provocative... If nothing else, the film is a real conversation starter.
Woodyanders
Cynical Scott (a perfectly crusty portrayal by Jeffrey Thomas), the more eager Liam (a solid performance by Jed Brophy), and vulnerable psychic Holly (well played by foxy brunette Laura Peterson) investigate a remote farmhouse that's rumored to be haunted.Director Jason Stutter, who also co-wrote the compact script with Kevin Stevens, relates the absorbing story at a steady pace, makes fine use of the rundown abode location, and eschews gore and cheap scares in favor of focusing instead on a gradually mounting spooky atmosphere which culminates in a chilling climax complete with a nifty little twist towards the end. The practical special effects are pretty simple, but still do the trick just the same. Grant Atkinson's sharp widescreen cinematography and the spare shivery score by Steve Roche, Janet Roddick, and David Donaldson are both up to par. A worthwhile fright film.
luvjellyboo
Enjoyed the movie very much, a little slow to start but a good build up. The acting was sometimes stiff, but the effects were good. I was disappointed how quickly it ended though, far too abrupt. I felt more time should have been spent on the finale. Also couldn't help but wonder how the parakeets could possibly be alive after all that time?!! Something i feel the producers, director or cast should have questioned. All in all, a pretty decent little movie.
Argemaluco
The Dead Room is a film which proves how old stuff can become new for the simple fact of developing its premise in a logical and rational way which ignores the clichés of modern horror in order to find its own vision. In other words, The Dead Room is a hidden gem which deserves an enthusiastic recommendation, specially to the fans of fantastic cinema looking for a well raised and expertly executed tale. Having said that, The Dead Room might disappoint the ones who are expecting a frantic horror film full of edition tricks. To start with, its first half is quite slow (but never boring), with the characters having arguments about the "science versus superstition" subject (one of my favorite themes, by the way); and even when the supernatural manifestations begin, they keep a sober tone. There are almost no special effects in The Dead Room, and there isn't any blood at all, because its intention is exploring psychological horror, either based on scientific facts or spiritual dogma. And besides, we have the solid performances from Jeffrey Thomas, Laura Petersen and Jed Brophy. In conclusion, I found The Dead Room an excellent film. Its New Zealander manufacture reflects the austerity and ingenuity of an industry which still dares to take the least safe way, without much fear for economic failure. What takes to the almost universally negative reviews The Dead Room received over the Internet... so, please, take my compliments with more caution than usual. But personally, I liked The Dead Room very much, both because of what it did and what it refrained from doing. Warning: individual opinions might vary.
samkan
Scope limitations built-in, dozens of haunted house films get churned out. Surprise, THE DEAD ROOM, for the first 90% of it's length, does an admirable job by exercising restraint with acting, dialog, and -especially, pace. Avoiding sub-plots, character flaws, back-stories and other melodrama, this is a fun flick. One devise I always abhor is the routine belief, acceptance, etc., in "paranormal" research; i.e., in reality there is no such thing. However, TDR uses such effectively by treating such modestly. But TDR's end is a disaster. Why not end the film with a low-key statement about the effect of the event on each character? TIP: Toward the end when the engineer character sees mist coming off a wall in the back room, turn the film off, imagine the house burns down, and you'll have a better movie experience.
