“Red Rooms,” a cinematic endeavor that marks its territory in the annals of 2024’s film offerings, presents itself with the grandiosity and ambition that could only be born out of a filmmaker’s fever dream. Unfortunately, this dream quickly devolves into a feverish nightmare—not of the intended horror genre variety, but of the kind that leaves viewers scrambling for a plotline like searching for a life raft in the open sea. The film, akin to a labyrinth constructed by a particularly spiteful Minotaur, embarks on a journey of convoluted twists and turns, seemingly forgetting that every story, no matter how complex, should ideally have a map for its audience to follow.
From the outset, “Red Rooms” promises an exploration into the dark underbelly of clandestine internet forums, a premise ripe with potential and brimming with the possibility of chilling narrative exploration. Yet, as the plot unfurls like a poorly constructed origami swan, it becomes increasingly apparent that the film is more interested in showcasing a mélange of disturbing visuals and disjointed subplots than in weaving a cohesive story. The narrative, if it can be generously called that, meanders through a murky swamp of half-baked ideas and unresolved threads, leaving audiences bewildered and checking their watches as they try to piece together what they’ve just witnessed.
The characters, trapped within this kaleidoscope of chaos, flit across the screen with the depth of shadows, their motivations as clear as a fogged mirror. It’s as if the script remembered halfway through that these figures, these avatars of human fears and desires, were meant to evoke empathy and understanding, rather than serve as mere props in a carnival of the bizarre. By the time the film decides to pull back the curtain and reveal the wizard behind its madness, the audience’s investment has waned, replaced by a nagging sense of confusion and a longing for clarity that never comes.
Visually, “Red Rooms” cannot be faulted for lack of effort. The cinematography and special effects team embark on an ambitious quest to salvage the film’s narrative shortcomings, crafting scenes that are as visually striking as they are thematically disturbing. Yet, even the most beautifully rendered landscapes cannot distract from the void left by the story’s lack of substance. It’s akin to admiring the craftsmanship of a beautifully designed book cover, only to open it and find the pages filled with incomprehensible scribbles.
In its final act, “Red Rooms” appears to undergo a moment of clarity, as if waking from its own convoluted stupor to remember that, at its core, it was supposed to be telling a story. The attempt to tie up loose ends in a hurried, almost apologetic manner, serves only to highlight the narrative deficiencies that plague the film from the start. The conclusion, rather than providing a satisfying resolution, feels more like a desperate gasp for air—a final attempt to imbue the film with a sense of purpose that was absent when it was most needed.
“Red Rooms” will undoubtedly find a niche audience, those who revel in the abstract and the undefined, who find beauty in the chaos of storytelling. However, for the average viewer seeking a coherent narrative and characters whose journeys evoke more than a passing interest, the film serves as a cautionary tale. It’s a reminder that, in the quest to push the boundaries of cinema, filmmakers must not lose sight of the foundational elements of storytelling: clarity, cohesion, and a compelling narrative that guides the audience from beginning to end, rather than abandoning them in a maze of confusion and missed opportunities.
Red Rooms (2024)
Summary
"Red Rooms" will undoubtedly find a niche audience, those who revel in the abstract and the undefined, who find beauty in the chaos of storytelling.