Watch The Black Room

The horror movie The Black Room, released in 2017, tells a tale of a happy couple moving into a new house in a small town in the United States. The husband, Paul (played by Alex Rinehart), hopes to surprise his wife, Jennifer (played by Natasha Henstridge), with a bedroom renovation that will improve their sex life. However, after discovering a hidden door in the room, they accidentally unleash a demonic force that threatens to disrupt their plans.

As the newlyweds settle into their home, they start experiencing odd happenings in the house. Paul accidentally cuts himself while working on the bedroom renovation, and he bleeds onto the floor before covering the spot with a rug. The following evening, Jennifer notices a strange stain on the rug that looks like blood. But, when she lifts the rug, the stain disappears. Jennifer also has strange and vivid dreams.

The couple's peace is severely disrupted when they find that the door in their bedroom leads to a black room, a mysterious chamber hosting occult symbols and artifacts from various cultures, dating back to ancient times. As the presence makes itself known in the home, the couple starts to feel effects that make them paranoid, surreal, and vulnerable to manipulations by this seductive force. Little do they know that the black room is the gateway to Hell, and it has been opened, allowing all sorts of hellish beings to come through.

As they investigate the secrets of the black room, they realize that it is linked to the horrors they are experiencing, and a struggle for survival ensues. The couple's investigation brings them in touch with Evangeline (played by Lin Shaye) – a mysterious neighbor who knows more about the black room's troubles than she lets on. But, they have to be careful, as her assistance might prove to be more dangerous than helpful.

The Black Room provides a twist on old horror tropes that explore themes like religious iconography, ancient rituals, sex, and sacrifice, all meshed together in a distinctly supernatural tale. Its portrayal of the demonic presence is incredibly satisfying, thanks to the elaborate art direction that draws from various cultures and civilizations' depictions of the underworld.

One of the movie's strengths is its blend of humor and horror. The characters have a lot of quirks and some well-timed jokes - generating real laughs from the audience. However, moments of terror and suspense are a vital part of the experience. The film also touches on marital sexual dynamics, as the storyline places the couple's bond at the center of the plot. The marriage's affectionate portrayal works as a counterbalance to horror's more unsettling aspects and underlines the consequences of trying to spice things up in a relationship to illicit results.

Apart from the leads, the supporting cast is also noteworthy, especially Lin Shaye, who stands out for playing a nuanced neighbor with secrets to hide. Tiffany Shepis's character as the seductive demon also has a few impressive moments of mind games power play scares.

In terms of storytelling, the movie's pacing deserves a mention. The film opens with a bloody and visceral scene before slowing down to allow the audience to get invested in the couple's lives. When things escalate, the story picks up pace, culminating in some frantic final moments. However, despite the film's running time of an hour and forty minutes, some of the scenes feel repetitive or dragging. That being said, the film never loses its touch when it comes to the scary parts.

Overall, The Black Room is an enjoyable horror movie that offers some fresh new elements to the genre. Its depictions of a supernatural seduction and demonic possession work well to create an engaging and horrifying premise. Alex Rinehart and Natasha Henstridge give believable performances as the couple in peril, and the supporting cast complements the leads' acting seamlessly. If you're looking for a horror movie that's a little out of the ordinary, The Black Room is a good option to check out.

The Black Room is a 2016 horror movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 31 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.4.