Time: 118 Minutes
Cast:
Juliette Gariépy as Kelly-Anne
Laurie Babin as Clémentine
Elisabeth Locas as Francine Beaulieu
Natalie Tannous as Maître Yasmine Chedid
Pierre Chagnon as Maître Richard Fortin
Guy Thauvette as Judge Marcel Godbout
Maxwell McCabe-Lokos as Ludovic Chevalier
Director: Pascal Plante

I didn’t know much about Red Rooms going in, just that the movie involved serial killers, and I decided to check it out after seeing so many people recommending it. I have to say that people were not underselling this at all.

As Red Rooms begins, it initially seems like it’s about a courtroom drama about a serial killer who’s put on trial for murdering three girls, but Red Rooms isn’t about serial killers. Rather, it’s about those who are obsessed with serial killers. You don’t see any of the killings on screen, but you definitely hear about them, more than you probably would like in fact. Red Rooms is frightening in a different way from what you’re expecting, uncomfortable to watch not only because of the subject matter, but also with how close to reality it feels, mainly with the internet age and people being parasocially obsessed with true crime. The disregard for humanity is also very much on display and an ever present thing, not only from the killer, but also from its protagonist and the things that she does over the course of the film. By the end, you come out of Red Rooms feeling icky, in a good way. It’s certainly a slow burn, but is incredibly riveting from beginning to end. It builds up such an unpleasant dread over the 2 hour runtime and doesn’t let up.

Juliette Gariépy is amazing and chillingly haunting as obsessive protagonist Kelly-Anne, who’s investigating this serial killer case. Through to the very end, she keeps us guessing as to who she is and what her intentions are, and we get glimpses at her alienation from humanity with the way she navigates her life. 

Pascal Plante’s direction is outstanding. While I’m not an expert on that side of the internet, everything involving the dark web and really everything involving technology just felt so grounded that it was uncomfortable. The editing and cinematography were very effective, with plenty of long and methodical tracking shots and movements. It really did well at making everything feel so claustrophobic. The sound design and sound mixing are so oppressive and unnerving, and the score from Dominique Plante is fantastic and utilised incredibly well.

Red Rooms is a captivating, unsettling and dread inducing psychological horror thriller about obsession and isolation, with stellar direction and an excellent performance from Juliette Gariépy. One of the very best movies of the year, and one of the best ‘horror’ movies of the year.