A sensitive story told in a unique way - ***1/2

Shot in 2014, this movie is based on a book by Irish-Canadian playright Emma Donoghue who wrote the screenplay herself.  The book itself won some prestigious awards while the movie has gained the attention of critics and award giving bodies particularly for the exemplary acting by the two main actors in the film.

The story takes you to Jack's (Jacob Tremblay) 5th birthday, celebrating it in the only the only world that he knows which is a shed.  Along with his mother, Joy (Brie Larson) who was abducted by Old Nick (Sean Bridgers)  they survive living in this little shed they call room for 7 years (for Joy) until their survival is challenged when Old Nick lost his job thus giving him difficulty to provide supplies and heat for the mother and son in captivity.

One thing that is unique about this film is that the story does not start in the beginning.  It takes you right in the middle of it and just allows every bit of mystery to unravel giving the audience the freedom to understand how it all began.  But the very strength of this film lies in the performance of Tremblay and Larson. The difficulty and emotional turmoil of a mother trying to raise a child that was born in captivity and the fear and acceptance of a son coping with a world he never knew existed.

Because the story is told thru the eyes and mind of Jack some bits of the story that might have been shocking or more dramatic if seen from the eyes of an adult became subtle and downplayed what could have a dramatic highlight or a shocking revelation.  In effect , it flattens the emotional journey of the audience and making the film a little bland.