By Melissa Antoinette Garza
Larry (Jimmy Stathis)is a middle-aged man who is married with two kids. He and his wife Robin (Clara Perryman) try to keep an active love-life but are always interrupted by their children. Larry wanting a little adventure sneaks a way to purchase a rendezvous spot where he can brings some ladies. He finds a room being offered from Jason (Stephen Knight) and his sister Bridget (Cassandra Gaviola) a very odd duo with a place to fit their personality.
The room is in a mansion in Hollywood Hills. It’s decked out with candle and otherwise completely black. Without question, this place was made for sex. Larry likes it and quickly rents it. Later while making love to Robin, he talks about the black room, but pretends he is merely role-playing. Robin eagerly listens and is turned on by the idea. Still, he wants to keep this party palace away from his wife and uses it only for his mistresses.
To Robin’s credit she tries to make things exciting. She asks Larry to get kinky with her, but he says he won’t because he loves her. What bullshit! Larry is a dickhead. He brings a bunch of hotties to his new place, but refuses to do anything to keep the fires burning at home. Fuck Larry.
As Larry is sexing up his lovers, Jason and Bridget look on and take photographs without either party knowing it. Later, when one of the women cancel, he goes outside and talks with Bridget. She tells him that Jason has a blood disorder and is very sick. Throughout the film, shots are shown of blood transfusions which seem to validate Bridget. The two have a wild crazy shag with Bridget painting herself up in neon colors and wearing feathers. Jason continues to take pictures without Larry knowing it. Later we see, Jason take more pictures at an unhinged shoot with his sister. As twisted as it is, Bridget looks fabulous as she rocks out a crazy wig and a shimmering gold dress.
Later, Larry hooks up with a prostitute and they start to play. She gets blindfolded and tied up, but an alarm goes off. Douchebag Larry leaves the hooker tied up and tells her he’ll be back in 30. Of course the poor gal can’t see or fight back when the maniacs attack. The maniacs are in fact Jason and Bridget. It’s not a whodunit and that’s not a spoiler. The siblings have a secret lab where they drain the blood of their victims and inject it into Jason. They kill all the lovers after Larry leaves.
At home, Robin is still trying to get Larry a little more fired up in the bedroom. She wants to be a plaything for a night, and he’s being a holy-roller about it. Sure, pay a girl to blindfold her, but don’t dare let your wife get off on a little role-playing. Again, Larry is a dickhead
Eventually, Robin wises up and finds out the black room is more than just fantasy. Jason convinces her to use the room for some fun and she goes for it. Good for her. That’s right! Fuck Larry. He’s a bad husband, a horrible fuck and a pious prick. Give Robin the boy-toy collection!
Robin isn’t as happy and when she sees all the photographs, she gets more pissed. She asks how they can take pictures from the room they are in and he shows her where they can watch from. That night, she watches while her husband meets with a girl and her boyfriend. The guy just wants to watch him screw his girlfriend for a psych paper, but Robin is devastated by it.
Jason convinces her to start bringing in other men so that he can watch her with them and take pictures. She does and Larry gets a good show that of course he’s not into. Of course, the moment Robin is getting off, Larry suddenly believes in monogamy. God forbid Robin gets to climax! Dickhead Larry suddenly doesn’t think the game is fun anymore and wants to call it quits.
I give it up for Robin for at least initially telling him to go screw and seeing the hypocrisy though she is more of a willing doormat than I prefer. When he’s pissed, he threatens to leave her and the kids. He’s an abusive prick. I hate that fucker. He is the true villain in this film. Sure, Bridget and Jason may be murderers who drain blood, but at least they believe in a woman’s right to enjoy sex.
The conclusion culminates in an odd and disturbing way that fits with the tone of the flick. The duo kidnaps Robin and Larry’s children with the intention of draining their blood. Larry suddenly cares about them and rejoins his wife in an effort to get them back.
THE BLACK ROOM is definitely a weird film and the $40K budget shows. Still, it’s an interesting and intense movie that delves into bizarre territory that though never fully explained is developed enough to fit the film’s structure.
The acting isn’t as campy as one would expect. Though definitely a hot-and-heavy movie it’s told in a straight-forward manner. It’s been years since I’ve seen it, but for whatever reason an old movie entitled CALL ME (1988) came to mind when watching it. I’ll have to go seek that one out as it was a favorite of mine when I was a teenager. It’s probably been about 20 years since I’ve seen it and all I now remember is a sexy little scene with a piece of fruit. Even that is a blur. Still, I wonder what type of themes and aspects triggered the memory.
As for THE BLACK ROOM, you can find it on YOUTUBE for free. Beyond that, it’s bootleg city, as far as I can see. I bought my copy at a horror con about 7 years ago. Seek it out and watch it for the odd little gem it is.
Oh and one more thing: Fuck Larry!
Scared Stiff Rating: 6.5/10
