Rating 3.9 out of 5: The Red Rooms… Why should you see this sophisticated thriller at the cinema?

A well-crafted and informative story

As the title suggests, Les Chambres Rouges takes us into the world of a secret network where real scenes of torture of one or more people are broadcast live. That’s what Montrealer Ludovic Chevalier is accused of, subject to a very public trial. Obsessed with this man, two young women take it upon themselves to find a missing video of one of his murders in order to discredit him.

The film, directed by Pascal Plante, is packed with court hearings and unfolds as an investigation conducted by the biased opinions of two individuals. Subtly, the story evokes the very real and troubling existence of “snuff films” and decries the appalling ease with which we can access this type of content via the Internet.

Presented from the point of view of the “killer group”, the red rooms evoke several sinister aspects of the human soul. In this way, it highlights the morbid curiosity that drives people, as well as the disturbing fascination that serial killers inspire in us.

Flawless actress

Centered around a man accused of murder, the film is still anchored by its two female protagonists, Kelly-Anne and Clementine, who are united by their unhealthy obsession with the case.

Juliet Gariep and Lori Fortin-Babin, the interpreters of these complex young women, give us two performances that are as effective as they are different. The silent and volatile character, Kelly-Ena, is brilliantly played by Juliet Gariep, who also won Best Actress at the Fantasy Film Festival.

The archetype of the gang, convinced of the killer’s innocence, unknown to him and fond of conspiracy theories, Clementine’s character contrasts with the very cautious nature of her partner, allowing Laurie Fortin-Babin to unleash her full potential.

Genre cinema is accessible to everyone

Genre cinema, often reserved for the expert few and thrill seekers, is generally aimed at a relatively small audience. Nevertheless, Les Chambres Rouges strives to be accessible to as many people as possible.

Far from any sensationalism, the feature film opens like a trial film and deals with its most sensitive subjects without showing the slightest drop of blood or gore. All of the horror of its story takes place behind the camera, and it was only banned for children under the age of 12, as well as being classified as a psychological thriller.

To keep the audience hooked till the end, the production cleverly adopted the codes of the suspense film and leaves the accused’s guilt in doubt until the last minute.

Red Rooms is available in theaters.