Bags and bags of plastic spoons? Check. Countless blurts of, “SLUT!”? Check. Comments shouted so loudly and frequently that you can’t actually hear what’s being said on the screen? Check. Welcome to The Room, a film directed, written, produced, and starring the great Tommy Wiseau. What? You’ve never heard of Wiseau or of The Room? Well, you’re definitely not alone.
The film centers around our protagonist Johnny (Wiseau) who is about to marry his love Lisa (Juliette Danielle) whom he discovers is actually having an affair with his best friend, Mark (Greg Sestero). Seems like standard enough soapy material, but in Wiseau’s hands, it’s so much more.
It’s an otherwise obscure film that was released in 2003 and has since been hailed by countless critics and fans as the worst movie of all time. But I said “fans’… Yes, fans. This movie is so terrible that it’s utterly hilarious, and as such, a strong and lively cult following has grown around it.
Since its initial run in Los Angeles, it has spread to screenings throughout the country and around the world, with fans yelling out lines from the film as well as synchronized criticisms that are almost like inside jokes.
You really need to see the film a few times before you actually can hear what’s being said on screen and can pick up on the rhythm of the audience participation.
Or, as previously mentioned, you can just yell out, “SLUT!” any old time and you’ll fit right in. The aforementioned spoons are used when they are thrown at the movie screen, as fans have noticed a random artsy photo of the cutlery that appears throughout the film.
The Room played this past weekend at the Coolidge Corner Theater to a packed and rowdy house, but can also be found online on sites such as Netflix Instant Play.
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