★★★★ Watched 1/10/26
It’s hard to hate an Almodovar film because they are shot in such a way that you forget the movie is sad.
Shot in film, the movie had a nostalgic feel — almost noir-style, Hitchcock vibe. With an ominous musical score, there was this presence of fear throughout the film. I swore this was two movies put into one.
The story of The Room Next Door is about a woman Martha (Tilda Swinton) who is dying of cancer. A good friend, Ingrid (Julianne Moore) comes to visit and they start reminiscing about the past and life in general. But there’s no hope for Martha and she’s just down right tired of medical treatments. Martha decides she’s done and asks her friend to be present while she commits suicide.
The story has no happy ending… We know the outcome from the beginning. But the film is not bleak. Its bright and full of color, just exactly what you expect from the Spanish director.
All the while, you expect something more. With the mysterious undertones he uses, you are waiting for something to go wrong. There has to be something coming.
Nope… it’s just a good solid film, beautifully shot and told.
