In this 15-minute thriller, Brian (Peter Mastne) welcomes his younger brother and aspiring actor, Jeremy (Rich Holton), into his tiny apartment. Expecting a new chance at bonding and hoping for some friendly downtime, Jeremy is shocked when Brian begins complaining about the cost of his kindness and making demands for payment. Laid back and trying to be understanding of his host, Jeremy agrees to pay before he moves out after the production of a film in which he plays a minor part.
Brian’s demands and eccentricities become more pressing as Jeremy continues living in the cramped apartment, their fights escalating into shouting matches. The film comes to an end with a twist that will leave viewers feeling dazed and confused: Where does the boundary between memory and insanity lie?
Winner of dozens of awards and honorable mentions, critics globally agree that Enter the Room is a short film worth watching and an impressive experiment into psychological thriller techniques. Released in 2022, Harry Waldman’s first self-written and directed film has only grown in its impressiveness with each passing year. I think he says what the film is supposed to portray best:
“I try to create powerful films that make the viewer feel a wide range of emotions and convey ideas that will linger in the viewers’ minds long after the credits roll… I created “Enter the Room” in order to highlight the tension and animosity between two siblings stemming from a past traumatic event, and to convey how much someone can change from being the victim of unfortunate circumstances. While I love telling bold narratives that push their characters to the brink of insanity, I also do my best to cover universal themes that most can identify with.” – Harry Waldman: FilmFreeway and Roma Cinephilia Magazine
By his own metrics, I think Enter the Room is a resounding success. While the memory of having a terrible roommate are fairly fresh on my own mind, most people can easily relate to the experience from both Brian and Jeremy’s perspectives, having spent the night in a friend or family members’ house where the rules were easy to break or where your space was trod upon.
The film’s experimental elements were easy to understand and added an element of horror to this tight and fast-paced short thriller. If you’re a fan of horror, thrillers, or short films, you’ll find incredible enjoyment in Enter The Room.
I think my only complaint is that this film is a short film: I wanted more! The small-scale production may be a bit of a turn-off for mainstream film fans, but indie film lovers will quickly fall for this outstanding short thriller. It’s a real stand out among ultra-low budget flicks. Here’s hoping that Waldman directs a feature in the near future. I’m certainly looking forward to seeing further projects from this up-and-coming director.
