By Leeann Aubuchon- Swimm
“Roman” is a low budget independent thriller/drama directed Angela Bettis and written by Lucky McKee. In addition to writing the movie, McKee also plays the lead character Roman. Roman is a lonely rather socially inept thirty-something year old guy. His life is quite boring and his daily routine ever so monotonous. He spends his days working as a welder and his evenings staring out his front window, waiting for one particular female neighbor (Kristen Bell) to pass by on her way to pick up her mail. Once she passes by, he spends the remainder of the evening drinking beer and staring at his wall dreaming and obsessing over this mysterious beauty.
One day, Roman runs into this woman while drinking beer up on the roof of the apartment complex. The two seem to hit it off in a very awkward sort of way. Roman gives excessive odd compliments and Bell’s character keeps talking about pork and beans. Ever wonder why the pork is all broken up in a can of beans? If you watch this film, you will learn.
Roman musters up the courage to ask his pork and beans liking neighbor over to his place for a beer. She takes him up on the offer and goes to his apartment for a drink. Roman starts to make the woman feel uncomfortable with weird compliments. She tries to leave but Roman becomes desperate and resorts to physical force to keep her there. In the frantic scuffle, he ends up unintentionally murdering her. Roman plagued with guilt, keeps her decaying body on ice in his bathtub. He ritualistically has daily conversations with the corpse and keeps a pork and beans diet. Roman decides the best way to move on is to cut off each of her limbs and dispose of each part in a lake.
However, things get complicated when an eccentric neighbor named Eva (Nectar Rose) takes a liking to him. He is afraid of getting close to her as he doesn’t trust himself. As he gets to know Eva he learns that she has a fascination with darkness and death. Eva who is an artist, feels inspired to complete her final masterpiece which she wishes to share with Roman. I won’t spoil the details of what this masterpiece entails. That being said, the movie has a rather predicable conclusion, so perhaps I already have spoiled it…
The Good: “Roman” is not your run of the mill movie, it’s unusual. The acting is well done and the characters are intriguing. Bettis was able to accomplish creating a unique film without needing anything fancy; It’s pretty good for what it is, a film with a low budget.
The Bad: What the heck was this movie shot with? The film quality is grainy and dull. Although it seems that the dull color may have been used for effect to emphasis Roman’s mundane existence. The lighting isn’t the best either but again may have to do with the mood the director was aiming to set (although doubtful). There are major problems with the sound in this film with the soundtrack being unbelievably loud and the dialogue almost inaudible at times. Other than the technical aspects of the film, I have only a couple complaints. The pacing of “Roman” could have been better as it starts really slow. Although not a biggie, some of the actors with small roles sounded as though they were reading off cue cards. A rather predictable ending rounds out “the bad”.
Overall Impression: “Roman” is not your typical “horror movie” it is more of a drama/thriller with a unique plot and interesting characters. If you can put up with poor film quality and a sluggish beginning then “Roman” is worth a watch.
Scared Stiff Rating: 5.5 / 10
