Horror Short Review: Enter the Room (2022)

From Harry Waldman comes Enter the Room, a compelling thriller/horror short that stars Peter Mastne and Rich Holton as brothers, Brian and Jeremy.

Brothers who are reunited when the latter turns up at the doorstep of the former looking for a place to crash. He’s in town working on a nearby film set, a job that came up suddenly, and he’s not had to time to find an apartment. Which is where Brian comes in. After all, what are brothers for?

Except Brian is a bit OCD, right down to the costs involved with Jeremy staying for just two weeks. This is more than just a favour to Brian, and it creates tension between the pair immediately. Tension that grows and grows as Brian’s demands become too much for Jeremy to handle and the reality of the former’s mental state becomes clear.

Acting. So much of what makes this an enjoyable watch is the chemistry between Brian and Jeremy. Peter Mastne and Rich Holton are excellent together, generating a believable connection in a short amount of time, which helps make the tense moments all the more uncomfortable, and it is an uncomfortable watch. Telling a story that is more thriller than horror, but one that satisfies none the less.

It’s shot well, keeping the focus on what matters and making the viewer feel like a third person in the environment, which gets freakier as the short film gets more and more psychedelic. The last couple of minutes are quite a treat as a deft filmmaking hand ensures the emotional impact hits.

In fact, the whole thing is a treat, Harry Waldman has created something that stays with you long afterwards and both actors deliver performances to be proud of.