-Written by Kyle Bain.
When a struggling young man, Isaac (Gabriel Adewusi), no longer has a place to live–he sneaks into a blind woman’s home. While the situation is odd, and somewhat comical, the two, Isaac and Victoria (Brid Brennan), will form an unlikely bond. Room Taken tells a touching story about loss and the toll it takes on us.
On paper, Room Taken sounds absurd. How in the hell is a man going to sneak into someone’s house and live there–regardless of whether or not the homeowner is blind? However, as the short film moves forward it becomes apparent that this isn’t really the point of the film; there’s far more to this that makes Room Taken incredibly interesting, important, and accessible.
The emotional relevance of the film is impeccable, incredibly touching, and each of the characters are far more compelling than I anticipated. Room Taken is not about the actions of the characters, but the characters themselves, and I felt a genuine connection with each of the two leads as a result of the work that Writer Michael Whelan and Director Tj O’Grady Peyton put into the script and the character development.
It’s a relatively quick film, and it quickly gets to the point. While mystery exists, and there’s certainly some thrill surrounding whether or not Isaac will eventually be caught, Whelan and Peyton don’t dawdle, wasting no time jumping into the bulk of the story and enticing viewers. Room Taken provides answers quickly enough that we don’t feel like we are being dragged along, but it does a wonderful job of holding onto it just long enough that viewers feel enticed, that they yearn for answers to a variety of questions.
There are moments in Room Taken that are emotionally draining, that force viewers to the edge, only to reel them back in just before they go off the deep end. In a film that I initially thought would be frustrating with someone camping out in a stranger's home, unbeknownst to them, turns into a film full of relevance, full of booming emotion. Adorable isn’t a word that I often use to describe, well…anything really. However, Room Taken is an adorable film, and it hits all the right emotional notes thanks to Whelan, Peyton, and the brilliant acting of Adewusi and Brennan.
Directed by Tj O’Grady Peyton.
Written by Michael Whelan.
Starring Brid Brennan, Gabriel Adewusi, etc.
8.5/10 = WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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