Red Rooms – REVIEW

As a film connoisseur with a soft spot for horror and courtroom dramas, I found “Red Rooms” to be an exhilarating and chilling ride that had me gripping the armrests of my seat till the very end. The movie’s authentic portrayal of the dark web and its associated horrors is something that could easily pass as a real-life court case, making it all the more terrifying.

The deep web, often seen as a blessing or a curse for contemporary horror films, provides an authentic atmosphere in movies like “Red Rooms”. This series employs a court case-driven narrative where model Kelly Anne (portrayed by Julieitte Gariepy) becomes fixated on a Montreal trial against Ludovic Chavakier (played by Maxwell McCabe-Lokos), who stands accused of murdering three teenage girls. The chilling aspect is that footage of two of these murders was streamed online, with some evidence found later. In this storyline, Chevalier, nicknamed ‘the Demon of Rosement’, remains unfazed as the accusations are put before the jury. This plot line offers a grim backdrop.

In this scene, Director Pascal Plante skillfully orchestrates a single shot that circles the courtroom as both the prosecution and defense deliver equally gripping arguments. These arguments are troublingly intense and serve as a warning to the jury that two videos will be played during the prosecution’s case. This moment evokes memories of the Moors Murders, where audio recordings made by Brady & Hindley of their victims were played in court, leaving even tough detectives in tears. Fortunately, Chevalier’s films are not shown here, but the brief snippets of disturbing audio, hinted at as the defendant is said to have treated his victims, come close to being just as harrowing.

It’s hard to understand why someone would voluntarily attend a court trial, and the mother of one of the victims criticizes those who do so when interviewed by the press outside the courthouse. However, Kelly Anne goes as far as sleeping on the streets outside the courtroom to guarantee a seat inside, and she is befriended by Clementine (Laurie Babin), who seems to be a groupie of sorts, firmly believing in Chevalier’s innocence and vocally defending him. The roles of the callously indifferent serial killer and his devout groupie could have been perfect for Boris Johnson and Nadine Dorries during the COVID era. Yet, Kelly Anne, who is expressionless, ideal for portraying emotions, and suited for modeling, ends up losing her job and being dropped by her agency due to her morbid fascination with the case, as suggested by the movies.

In my opinion, “Red Rooms” is an exceptional blend of horror and thriller genres that manages to captivate viewers till the very end, prompting them to reflect on the experience they’ve just had, making it a must-watch for enthusiasts of these genres.

Here’s the Red Rooms trailer…..

2024-09-04 02:24

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