WATCH THE TRAILER BELOW:
First, the Recap:
The tangled landscape of the mind. While we all most assuredly strive to maintain and enjoy a level degree of mental sanity in life, we also find that conflicts or other trying circumstances become an inevitability as well. When these latter aspects rear up, it then very much comes down to HOW our minds will cope with them, HOW we will carry forward, and whether it will be constructive or destructive to us. Sadly, if this likewise ends up as the latter, will we be able to find the way out? Or will we simply be consumed?
Brian (Peter Mastne) is a young man on the edge and very accustomed to a highly obsessive routine. Surviving amidst an undisclosed inner struggle, the arrival of his brother Jeremy (Rich Holton), who’s in town for new opportunities but no place to stay yet, seems a cautiously optimistic arrangement. However, it soon becomes more than evident that the two share completely opposite habits and attitudes about life, causing Brian to lash out, Jeremy to be caught in it all, and a jarring revelation to be unearthed.
Next, my Mind:
The stormy state of the unsettled mind buried in an attempt to hide its chaos through obsessive routine collides with blunt force impact into the realms of familial/sibling relationships, the clashing of life outlooks, the ever-paralyzing weight of a burdened conscious, heavy loss, and consequent aftereffects of it all through this quite candidly compelling, emotively potent 15-minute indie short film from writer/director/producer/editor Harry Waldman and producer/cinematographer Lance Eliot Adams. With a quiet then explosive resonance that is as undeniably engaging as it is emotionally jarring, the building of tension and devolving sanity is intelligently written, visually adept, and cleverly executed as a whole to deliver maximum and influential significance that does its themes high, necessary, rawly depicted justice.
Through the narrative that sees the coming together of two brothers after an extended time apart and the subsequent, emotionally-charged, constantly growing in intensity tussles that ensue when their respective views and means by which they conduct their lives threatens to not only separate them again, but digs long-festering pain as well is frank and relentless in its purpose, driving you as the viewer in one direction until further plot points very abruptly and effectively showcase what’s really lying below the surface. I felt it’s this astutely presented format the story utilizes that provides the film which such an unavoidable degree of convincing authenticity and definitive magnitude of piercing disclosure, especially when it reaches the third act and ultimate finale which leaves you shell-shocked and yet deeply satisfied as to how beautifully the film is put together to have such blatantly awareness-raising messages contained within its abbreviated runtime.
It’s a superb mix of the thriller/horror/drama/mystery elements that make it up, and the looks into such topics as mentioned above life family and brotherhood get fully expanded on in then addressing how we choose to live our life, our reactions when something disturbs that balance, the nature of impatience that arrives with it, the conflicts we then experience, the frustration of feeling like we’re being ignored or unheeded, and the need for mutual understanding to exist within even the most volatile of circumstances all have their “say” here. BUT, it is what manifests FROM these aspects of the story that REALLY conveys the project’s intent, and I cannot go into what that is as it would entail spoiling major facets of the narrative. Suffice it to say, as previously mentioned as well, this primary gist just gut-punches you in a way that will very much linger. And, for this critic, it was simply brilliant filmmaking.
The film’s visuals also greatly aid in creating the atmosphere of escalating strain, employing creative color schemes during certain moments to emphasize the mental state of being for one particular character with excellent and apropos expressiveness. Likewise, the music score accompanying the events also adds to this as well, a layer of ominousness manifesting as what we see unfolding begins to spiral farther and farther into disarray and harrowing instability of mind. Mastne portrays a man who, for all intents and purposes, appears to be existing in a normal and stable enough environment in a small apartment that’s settled through a very conspicuous routine via his role as Brian. Yet, as Brian cordially (thought it feels hesitantly) welcomes his bother into his space, it becomes clear very quickly that the aforementioned routine is going to be “boy interrupted”.
At first subtly, but then becoming exponentially more vexing on every level, Brian’s grip on patience, much less his very sanity, with Jeremy in his “sphere” devolves into an seemingly OCD-driven rage that could upend the pair’s relationship to very bad extents. But, is there more to Brian’s fractured mindset that meets the eye? And can Jeremy somehow manage to talk him down? It’s one all-consuming, penetrating performance Mastne delivers here, and to play this unhinged cannot be the easiest thing to embody. But, Mastne handles it like a champ. On a more subdued but then equally energetic plane, Holton is the picture of easy-going, taking life in stride as joyfully and satisfyingly as possible through his role as Jeremy, Brian’s brother who’s now in town thanks to a new job and needs a temporary place to stay until getting things arranged.
While happy to see Brian and appreciative of his hospitality, it doesn’t take very long for Jeremy to discover that his own lifestyle habits are drastically in contention with Brian’s, and the unease, agitation, and impatience that follows causes a proliferation in hostility between them that could end with an emphatic and harmful conclusion. However, is there also more to Jeremy’s general state of affairs than is apparent as well? And is there a past history between the two that will define them when the dust settles? It’s a fantastically enacted character that Holton imbues with a combination of affability, then stubborn (yet understandable!) disconcert, then affecting gravitas that not only suits the narrative we’re watching come about, but cements a far more stirring and disturbing set of truths that give the proceedings their substance. You will see what I mean when you have the opportunity to watch the film.
So, in total, “Enter The Room” stands firm on its title with a multi-faceted meaning that inhabits both physical and psychological realms that is all made more than abundantly evident as the film unfolds, sparking a series of reactions in you as the viewer that encompasses all the dynamic ranges offered while also bearing all of the relevant and needed statements about the importance of mental health, coping with change, loss, and trauma, and the importance of ensuring those afflicted can be helped, cared for, and treated with compassion.
STAR RATING (out of 5):
As always, this is all for your consideration and comment. Until next time, thank you for reading!
