Do you know what Mother of Movies loves about cinema? The stories. Sure there are many aspects to filmmaking that certain groups consider outside the scope of who can and should talk about movies. But I consider myself someone who wants to share the emotional impact some creatives can impart through visuals and dialogue on the silver screen. The Oak Room is a multifaceted nonlinear storyline. Not only told with perfect accuracy but also fills the frame with tiny details you can only see on a second viewing. This is one of the best thriller movies ever and you should not miss it.
The first thing you need to know about The Oak Room is this review will not divulge any spoilers. I must admit, I watched this thriller movie almost three times. I rarely do this with any new title I see. In this instance though, I couldn’t help myself. I loved the pacing, the performances, the cast, the cinematography, and the atmosphere imparted by the seasonal tone.
Writers, Cast, and Crew for The Oak Room
The Oak Room is Cody Calahan’s fourth film after Antisocial, Let Her Out & Vicious Fun. Production comes from Chad Archibald (Bite) and the Black Fawn Film Filmmakers. Writer, Peter Genoway debuted The Oak Room as a play at the 2013 Fringe Festival. The casting is comprised of RJ Mitte (Breaking Bad), Peter Outerbridge (Saw VI), Ari Millen (Orphan Black), Nicholas Campbell (Black Mirror), Martin Roach (Code 8), and David Ferry (Legion.)
How to Tell A Lie Effectively
The story for “The Oak Room” movie is filled with anecdotes. Ones that speak to the relationships between children and their parents, obligations for continuing traditions, and what happens on the flip side when you follow your dreams. Small reflections in the larger scope of a narrative that you have to pay attention to. I’m gently suggesting here, not to sit down to watch The Oak Room with your phone beside you. Firstly you won’t need it, because it’s riveting from the moment the film opens in a rustic bar. And secondly because if you do not pay attention you will miss the impact of the climactic finale.
RJ Mitte plays Steve, the son of a mechanic, a fisherman, and a barfly. His father Gordon (Nicholas Campbell) has passed. Steve has returned to collect his father’s ashes from Kirkland Lake bar owner Paul (Peter Outerbridge.) Neither man was particularly enthusiastic to see the other and both with plenty to say about it.
I’ve been a fan of Mitte since his role in Breaking Bad. Here in The Oak Room he again manages to convey those small inflections that cause you to doubt or confirm the underlying nature of his words. For this particular role about ‘goosing the truth’ alongside figuring out who your concern should be aimed at, he is pure perfection. Steve and Paul chat about many things beginning with a debt Steve owes, and how he fled the small town leaving his father behind in his dust for a better life. Accusations about circumstances are pondered without context according to whose story is more believable based on the past.
The Oak Room
During a snowstorm, Steve presents a clever solution to settle his debt, setting the stage for an intriguing conversation in a dimly lit bar. Unveiling the pieces gradually, The Oak Room is a thought-provoking film that keeps you guessing until the very end. Unpredictability is the name of the game for Mother of Movies, making this dark and bleak cinematic creation from Black Fawn Films and Cody Callaghan a must-see for avid film enthusiasts.
I give The Oak Room
5 wrong turns in a snowstorm out of 5
- Best films of 2020: The Columnist / Survival Skills / Bleed With Me
- The Oak Room movie hit the Fantasia Film Festival on the 25th of August, 2020, and also Nightstream in October.
Where to Watch This Thriller Movie
The Oak Room movie is streaming on:
Check out the trailer for THE OAK ROOM
