A closer look at "Red Rooms" in select theaters on September 6th

Red Rooms (Utopia)

Utopia Pictures is set to release the psychological thriller "Red Rooms," directed by Pascal Plante. This gripping film follows Kelly Anne (Juliette Gariépy), a young woman obsessed with a notorious serial killer on trial, as the courts try to uncover the dark and controversial "Red Rooms"—online spaces on the dark web featuring live videos of torture and death, often involving unsuspecting children. Although the film has received numerous positive reviews, I wanted to share my thoughts as it makes its North American theatrical debut this September. Recently, Pascal Plante held a Q&A at the IFC Center following a screening of "Red Rooms," and we have that video available, courtesy of @NYCGeezer on YouTube.

"Red Rooms" dives deep into themes of obsession and morbid fascination. While there have been other films exploring hidden societies and dark desires to witness torture, like "8MM" or the 1994 Spanish film "Tesis," this film stands out by captivating the audience with its slow, excruciating portrayal of violence. It taps into an unsettling curiosity about the macabre that has been debated in universities and discussed on campuses for years.

Thesis 1996 (Mubi)

The film hooks viewers from the start, largely due to Juliette Gariépy's manic and mesmerizing performance. Laurie Babin, playing Clementine, is also a standout, and together, the two deliver a captivating chemistry that feels both awkward and intriguing. Their interactions are some of the film's most compelling moments, showcasing a fascinating clash of personalities from completely different worlds.

"Red Rooms" has so much to offer—it felt like watching the sequel to "American Psycho 2" we never got. This film could have been that! But enough of my musings. I sincerely hope you get the chance to see "Red Rooms"; I’ve provided a few viewing options below.

HMU Rating: 3.5/5!

Red Rooms

Directed by Pascal Plante

Starring Juliette Gariépy, Laurie Babin, and Maxwell McCabe-Lokos.

THEATER ENGAGEMENTS

AMC Patton Creek 15 (Hoover, AL)

AMC Valley Bend 18 (Huntsville, AL)

The Lark (Larkspur, CA)

Alamo Drafthouse DTLA (Los Angeles, CA)

Laemmle NoHo 7 (North Hollywood, CA)

AMC Ontario Mills 30 (Ontario, CA)

AMC Orange 30 (Orange, CA)

The Frida (Santa Ana, CA)

AMC Mission Valley 20 (San Diego, CA)

Laemmle Monica Film Center (Santa Monica, CA)

Dairy Arts Center (Boulder, CO)

AMC Plainville 20 (Plainville, CT)

AMC Aventura Mall 24 (Aventura, FL)

LakeWorth Playhouse (Lake Worth, FL)

Regal Pointe Orlando (Orlando, FL)

Regal Waterford Lakes (Orlando, FL)

The Plaza (Atlanta, GA)

IC FilmScene (Iowa City, IA)

Regal Edwards Boise (Boise, ID)

AMC Streets Of Woodfield 20 (Schaumburg, IL)

AMC Barrywoods 24 (Kansas City, MO)

Hi-Pointe (St. Louis, MO)

AMC Concord Mills 24 (Concord, NC)

AMC Southpoint 17 (Durham, NC)

AMC Town Square 18 (Las Vegas, NV)

The IFC Center (New York, NY)

Woodward (Cincinnati, OH)

Cleveland Cinematheque (Cleveland, OH)

Gateway Film Center (Cleveland, OH)

AMC Easton Town Center 28 (Columbus, OH)

Broadway Metro (Eugene, OR)

Regal Fox Tower (Portland, OR)

Regal Manor (Lancaster, PA)

AMC Waterfront 22 (West Homestead, PA)

AMC Chattanooga 18 (Chattanooga, TN)

AMC Thoroughbred 20 (Nashville, TN)

The Belcourt (Nashville, TN)

Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, TX)

AMC Gulf Pointe 30 (Houston, TX)

AMC Willowbrook 24 (Houston, TX)

AMC Mesquite 30 (Mesquite, TX)

AMC Hampton 24 (Hampton, VA)

Regal Kiln Creek (Newport News, VA)

The Grand Tacoma (Tacoma, WA)

AMC Fitchburg 18 (Fitchburg, WI)