An Unforgettable Terminator: A Review of The Room

The Room, directed by and starring Tommy Wiseau, is a so-bad-they’re-good movie masterpiece. Unlike many others in this category, which are merely mildly incompetent, The Room takes the viewer on a complete vortex of cinematic insanity, making it a unique and unforgettable experience. Let’s delve into why this film has gained such a cult following and why it continues to be a critical talking point for movie enthusiasts.

The Production: A Chaotic Journey

The making of The Room is as chaotic and unfiltered as its final product. Wiseau’s behavior and the production's disarray have become legendary within the film industry. He was known for his egotistical and delusional nature, often arguing that he had real talent and would become a huge celebrity by merely emulating Hollywood personalities from the 1930s-1950s. His arbitrary decisions, such as changing the script mid-film and demanding a last-minute beard shave, further added to the film’s chaotic nature.

The Cast and Conditions

The cast of The Room faced numerous challenges on set, including extreme working conditions. The mother actor, who played Misty Wandrous, fainted during filming due to the scorching heat in San Francisco's concrete basements. Even smaller details, like the billboard-sized advertisement, make it clear that Wiseau was far from a seasoned filmmaker. The predominantly indoor shooting and limited variety in locations only added to the film's predictable nature.

The Plot: An Incomprehensible Mess

Attempting to summarize the plot of The Room is a futile endeavor, as it is a tangled web of comedic and enigmatic threads that tie themselves in self-referential knots. The story involves an incompetent character named Johnny (Wiseau) and his fiancée Lisa, who is both his best friend’s girlfriend and potentially a cheater. The film mixes a broad range of genres, from romance to drama, all while maintaining a bizarre and disjointed narrative structure. Wiseau himself admitted that these stories would take a “twist,” but had no clear resolution, leaving the audience to wonder about the outcome of each subplot.

The Dialogue: A Chaotic Emoticon

The dialogue in The Room is equally as distasteful as the plot. Characters act out their emotions with exaggerated expressions and disjointed speech patterns, akin to how a bipolar person might speak. The tactical declarations and choppy transitions between lines create a sense of chaos. Characters often state the obvious or mention themes that are completely out of context, leaving the audience questioning the coherence of the narrative.

Wiseau’s ego and his delusion led to bizarre decisions like a billboard being used as the primary promotional material for the film, with no other form of marketing. The budget was a mere 6 million dollars, yet the locations (mainly confined to one room and a few props) and stock footage make it seem more like a home video.

Conclusion: A Cult Classic for the Ages

The Room is a prime example of a so-bad-they’re-good movie that has transcended the boundaries of traditional cinema. Despite its chaotic production, absurd plot, and incoherent dialogue, it has been celebrated by a devoted fanbase. The film's peculiar charm and the unintentional humor derived from its numerous flaws have made it a significant piece of cult cinema. Not only is The Room a powerful statement on the nature of art and talent, but it also serves as a critique of the superficiality often found in the film industry. It is a reminder that sometimes, it's the errors themselves that define a masterpiece.