I was recommended this by my Francophone friend, and I went in expecting some archetypal French arthouse BS, but God was I wrong! And so happy to be. It's as much a dark thriller as it is a meta character sketch. Juliette Gariepy gives a performance that easily blows any Oscar nominees last year out of water.
One of the tensest viewings I've ever had, especially considering the tension doesn't often come from the things you'd expect (like, a scene with stocks is the tensest part of the film)
Absolutely insane how unsettling it is without hardly showing anything unsettling on screen the entire movie.
Red Rooms is so gripping from start to finish. Unpredictable too, I genuinely had no idea where it was heading. I'm glad to see it getting some love on here!
Yeah, I kept thinking about where it was heading but didn't think it was actually going that way. Like there was going to be a twist or something. Then she started smiling..... 😬
Sent fucking shivers down my spine
I agree great movie. I live in Montreal and it’s cool to see successful films made by Quebecers that appeal to an international audience. Usually Canadian talent is behind the camera or just the location or whatever. Not the whole film being Canadian itself
Humanist Vampire was great as well
There's some great Canadian independent film out there. Two that come to mind are Jesus Christ: Vampire Hunter and Jack Brooks: Monster Slayer.
Are either of them top notch? Hell no. Are they cult classics - hell yes.
And the setting felt so not Canadian for some reason. Like it didn't feel like Pontypool or something. Quebec truly is different;)
Go see Hellcat at Fantasia if you’re in town :)
the film was pretty much made for me, a deconstruction of evil urges. The people that click with it really click with it
This is EXACTLY how I felt after watching it, but I feel like an absolute freak recommending it to people.
Absolute banger…but it's not for everyone and I get it.
It's way too dark for the casual thriller crowd and the lack of on screen violence and gore is a problem for your typical horror fan. They're going to wanna see the tapes too badly.
You really need a horror fan who appreciates solid storytelling, directing, acting and character development.
But if that's your thing… this movie absolute rocks.
As a horror fan I think you see enough of the tapes personally but I do get what you mean
That's what I loved about it.
I was so disturbed by what I imagined on the tapes that there is no way the actual tapes could have topped that…which made the movie worse!!
Well yeah and homegirl's reaction when she sees one. You can literally see her infatuation shrivel up and die, it's so well done.
She was SO good. Absolutely nailed the blind infatuation face and then the ‘oh shit I have made a huge mistake’ face
I hate the movie, and I don't get why people like it so much. I love true crime, so the idea of someone obsessing over a grisly murder case absolutely interests me. But, I don't think anything particularly interesting happened. I would have loved some storyline of why the two women are so obsessed with the case, and maybe the third tape had something interesting in it. I just don't get the appeal.
I think the appeal is that what Kelly Anne does in the movie (the cosplay bit) is so banal yet comes across as so distrubing.
The film uses empathy and great character development/story to create unease. It doesn't rely on gore or violence but leaves it up to your imagination.
But I get it. Not a lot actually happens on screen and there is no big twist.
For me though… loved it
As I watched this film, I couldn’t stop thinking - if Patrick Bateman were a woman, Juliette Gariepy would absolutely nail the role.
She far surpasses Bale imo even.
My partner and I discuss this like once a week since we watched it a few months ago. What do yall think is the point of the film— like her obsession with killer etc. we have differing opinions but (me saying she’s a high sensation seeking sociopath bf disagreeing) by the time it gets to her like taking the photos dressed up in the house I am not sure I even know what’s going on (in a good way!)
She’s obsessed with the case and upsetting the family imo. I’ve seen a few commenters say she wants to crack the case herself but she already knows who done it, imo she’s just in it for the chaos. The idea she’s doing it just to find evidence is undermined by her putting on the costume and breaking into their house, and her leaving the usb on the mums bedside table shows she just wants to upset her imo
Exactly my point. Thank you all. I will go tell my bf that the internet has indeed confirmed I am right.
What is your boyfriend’s take that contradicts yours?
That she’s a true crime buff trying to solve the crime. I think all her other behaviour shows that she is into it — constantly taking risks and seeking bigger and bigger rushes.
That's it. She's not a true crime junkie--if she was, she'd have given the usb to the police, either anonymously or in a way that would make her famous depending on what gets her off. Instead, she gives it to the victim's mother. That is vile. That is so utterly inhumane, to give a grieving mother footage of her daughter being tortured and killed, knowing that the unaware woman will watch at least some of it before realising what it is and turning it over to the police. There is not a single worse choice of who to give the usb to. It's the cruellest choice possible. It still gets to the police in the end, so it still results in his conviction, but that clearly wasn't her goal--if it was, she'd have given it to the police directly. She wanted the mother to watch it.
The point of the film is that the main character is precisely as much of a monster as the guy on trial, but she manipulates and tortures people differently, so she's not behind bars. She is just as much of a psychopath as him.
Am I the only one who would even take it a step further and thought she got some sort of sexual satisfaction from the whole thing? The look on her face when she won the tape in the auction was almost orgasmic . Also the satisfaction she got throughout the film from forcing her “friend” to watch the other tape when she clearly was uncomfortable and putting on the schoolgirl uniform was giving me fetish vibes. I haven’t heard many people discuss this viewpoint before and I am curious what other people think.
She also looks like she’s in ecstasy when she’s modeling during her photoshoots. This girl gets off on attention, superiority, and others’ suffering.
Yes, she looked to be in sexual climax when watching the snuff film. It's extremely disturbing. The guy on trial, it's implied, got some kind of sick, sexual thrill from kidnapping, torturing, and killing young girls. The main character is the same. Making her "friend" suffer, watching a horrific death, are the times we see the most emotion from her in the film. She loves it.
The uniform scene is an incredible piece of cinema. Nothing violent or scary happens, but it's so twisted and awful. She loves not just the attention but how she's controlling everyone, making them all extremely uncomfortable, even suffering. It's extremely sexual but not in the more common schoolgirl uniform fetish way. It's somehow far worse.
To add to your point she watches a clip of the mother twice where the mother says >! She can’t sleep, and she chooses to put the usb directly on the mother’s bedside table, it’s wilful cruelty!<
Really interesting take.
I agree with you, your bf’s take doesn’t account for a lot of her other behavior.
Nah, all evidence points to you. She gets off on destroying the lives of weaker people. You see that right from the first of the movie when she's explaining how she chooses her online poker opponents. Then she trashes that one poor woman's entire worldview. Then she wears the dead girl's uniform to the trial, which upsets literally everyone. Then she wins the footage and leaves it with the mother.
Her destructiveness just keeps escalating.
It is kinda the whole bit about gazing into the abyss and the abyss gazing back into you. So as she reaches out to finds these things she is also opening herself to it and that guides her actions as she falls.
at the very least I am super grateful for this movie for introducing me to Ada Rook
Maybe it’s just this Reddit, but I see Red Rooms mentioned all the time.
I’m also the odd person out because while I didn’t mind the film, I had no strong reaction to it either.
Same. It kinda just exists for me. On paper I should love it, but I guess I’m ultimately just not the target audience for it. Don’t get me wrong, it was good, but I’m probably not going to return to it.
Yeah it was fine. I wasn’t really too moved by it though. And it didn’t feel all that tense.
Kelly-Anne is a great horror character.
One of the few horror movies to really get to me. Had a great time talking it over with my partner afterwards. Lots to dig into and what an outstanding performance!
I really enjoyed this movie, but to people on this sub thinking about watching it: it’s not strictly speaking a horror movie, it isn’t graphically violent, and is not what most people would call “scary.”
I don’t say all this to detract from the film, I say it in an attempt to prevent a bunch of follow up posts saying ”everyone said Red Rooms was so great and one of their favorite horrors but it sucks nothing happens and it didn’t even scare my friend who is scared of everything lol lmfao!!!”
Hard disagree. If there are people complaining about a horror film not being violent or fast paced then I'd argue they're the odd ones out and are only movie theater popcorn horror fans.
You new to the sub…?
I'm interested, but when I look up "Red Room" there's about 8 different things with very similar titles.
Which one is the good one?
Red ROOMS, not Red Room, it will make a difference in your search.
French-Canadian...2023 or thereabouts.
The original French title is 'Les Chambres Rouges'. See if that appears as a subtext.
Rouges* is the right spelling (just in case it's difficult to find)
Oh yeah, thanks. I'll correct it. I could never speak French haha ;)
Haha avec plaisir (my pleasure)!
Ugh I thought I was watching this but I accidentally watched some Irish film titled Red Room on Tubi which was just kinda garbage.
Oh I'm sorry (this is kind of a funny anecdote, though). I hope you'll enjoy the real one!
Tell me, why are you looking up “Red Room”? OP specifically said “Red Rooms”. How’s your eyesight? There literally one single feature length film by the name Red Rooms. Reading a little more closely would have saved you all that trouble.
I found it started strong but was disappointed halfway through when it, in my opinion, wasn’t a horror movie. Like at all.
I think if it was advertised as a drama it might have gone over better but I kept waiting for the “horror” and it just never came
If anything I’d say it’s over hyped
Absolute banger. Despicable protagonist, cool concept, looks amazing, that “purchasing” scene played out like an action sequence.
Watched it a couple nights ago, went pretty in depth on LB: https://boxd.it/acI8MD
I think its good, but imo it kinda makes no sense??? Or maybe i didnt understand right? Or maybe i did and its still super interpretative with no clear answer?
I think it's important to see that it's a film about the protagonist more than the case itself.
Or maybe i did and its still super interpretative with no clear answer?
I'd say this is it. It's one of those movies that doesn't hold your hand and doesn't really care if the ending is tied up in a cute bow.
I thought it was really good, maybe not great but it's a subtle movie that isn't going to appeal to everyone.
Its because its not French. Its Quebecois.
I say, as someone who was also expecting French arthouse bullshit.
How do you say Quebecois? Kwe-beh- Swa?
My absolute favourite film! Stands up to multiple rewatches.
Just saw it earlier this year and it’s one of my top 5 films of 2025 (not based on release year obviously). But it’s not something I recommend to others easily. The main character was so nonchalant about everything, I honestly couldn’t figure out her motive/feelings for the longest. And even at the end, I was left with a mix of emotions. And the desire to see the videos! Ughhh I can’t express the level of frustration I felt watching her watch the films but then I was like WTF… why do I need to see the films…I’m just like one of those weirdo fan girls obsessed with the act instead of appalled. Anyways, ramble done.
My favorite movie of last year. I like how authentic the online tech space was represented in that film. The payoff at the end was also great
it is so good. i could relate to it so much and liked the main girl so much i immediately watched it twice in a row. i have never done that with any other movie
Not slept on by genre fans.
I can't seem to get it in the UK
It's on the BFI channel with a subscription, and Sky Store and Amazon to rent or buy
stremio
Is this an app?
I couldn’t get very far into this one the other night because I had flashbacks from Martyrs and Trauma…
While similar subjects are involved, it is not a graphic movie at all
Thank you! I’ll give it another go. I just can’t stomach another violence on women torture porn horror movie.
To be clear those themes are present in the movie, but it is not a graphic film and certainly not torture porn.
My #3 of last year. Really a film for our times.
I liked it and misinterpreted it because I dont read French. I still liked it after I got set straight.
It's sooooo good. So unsettling. VERY slept on.
LOVED this movie
It was not for me. But I love seeing a Canadian (and French) film getting so much praise.
The acting was great, but I am on the side of wanting to see something play out at some point of the film, whether that be a glimpse of the tapes, something happening with the main character, just anything.
Since there isn’t much that happens throughout the movie, I tend to forget that I’ve seen it until it gets mentioned again. There’s definitely a big audience for it on this sub though, which is great nonetheless.
I saw it from a press screener before recording a podcast about it.
I thought it was pretty good. But I skipped the blu ray release of it and haven’t really thought about it much after the initial viewing.
agree, great movie
Haven’t heard of this until now. I’m always seeking out horror/sci fi I haven’t seen. Thank you!!!
Because it wasn’t all that special
Unrelated buuut kind of not? If you are a fan of comics, I highly recommend Ed Piskors Red Room series.
My favourite film of 2023 and one of the strongest in the genre of the decade. So incredibly unflinching and an unforgettable lead performance.
One of my absolute faves from the last few years. Got under my skin.
Amazing movie
I absolutely loved this film. Went into it blind. Halfway through it finally hit me what the movie was really about and I had to pause it and talk to my cat about whether he saw that bitch.
It's a film I think many people can relate to. It's like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo without all of the extravagant thriller elements. A woman who is terminally online. Clearly on the "scale". An empath dealing with an unhealthy obsession of the macabre in the name of justice, and discovering the truth at any cost. It does get a little crazy near the end with that shocking court room scene, but Kelly-Anne feels like a real person with all sorts of imperfect dimensions we can relate to instead of a typical "heroine". A rare female anti-hero.
theres a japanese with the same name
Yeah this one was very very good. Like very vey good.
So good! Just watched it and have recommended to everyone!
Is Red Rooms mostly in French?
IMDB lists the languages spoken as French and English.
Yes, like 95% French with a sprinkling of English
Watched it last week, long and Boring AF.
You can't believe how little mainstream attention has been given to a slow-burn, somewhat experimental, French-Canadian language, indie horror film? OK.
It's a very popular film in this community.
Huh? Who pissed in your coffee dude? I was just jumping for joy about a horror movie in a horror sub lmao.
"I cannot believe how slept on Red Rooms is"
You can't? Really? You should try being less incredulous.
You should try not being a massive cock.
Yes. I literally can't lmao. I'm hysteric. Screaming in agony 😱😱😈😈. I need two million strangers on the internet to placate me.
French Canadian isn't a separate language. We just say French.
By “we” I assume you mean Canadiens
I mean French Canadians who have had an avalanche of derogatory treatment from the anglo majority who have, among other things, been maintaining through numerous digs over time that French in Canada is somehow "lesser" or not real French. Saying something is "French-Canadian language" fits that mold, and is obviously different from identifying the dialectical, local differences that do exist in Canadian French vs forms of French elsewhere. Again, there is no "French Canadian language" as your own link there says that it is not a separate language, rather it "is the French language as it is spoken in Canada." Does "American English language" sound right to you, or do you speak English?
Of course there is “American English,” and the only people I’ve ever heard make a point of Canadian French being a distinct dialect / separate language are the French, not your alleged Anglo oppressors.
It’s one of my favorite movies of the 2020s. Incredibly tense, tackles so many themes perfectly, and the horror aspect is so effective.
There is one jumpscare in this with a scream in sync with someone’s eyes moving, and this has been one of these jumpscares that has stayed with me long after I left the theater.
The uniform scene gave me lasting goosebumps!