Plot Details: This opinion reveals minor details about the movie's plot.

I wouldn't say that I enjoyed watching The Killing Room because it's a difficult movie to sit through.  But I was definitely intrigued by the story, and fascinated by the ending.  Still, there are plenty of faults in this movie, and it probably will not appeal to most people.

Four people sign up for a psychological experiment.  They're told they'll be paid $250 for about 8 hours worth of work.  Assuming they'll be filling out a questionnaire and perhaps answering some questions, they're only too happy to exchange their time for a few bucks.

They quickly find out that this experiment is not exactly 'above board'.  I won't give any details away but suffice it to say, what they go through is not worth $250! 

But fear not - this is not a 'torture porn' type of movie.  In fact, there's really no graphic violence or sex.  Not to say that this experiment is 'pretty'; it's certainly not.  But the object of the movie is not to gross out the audience, it's more to shock, especially as the real motivation behind the experiment is made clear.

The movie is difficult to sit through, for several reasons.  First of all, 99% of the action takes place in exactly one room.  It's a bland room, with low light, absolutely nothing visually stimulating about it.  Furthermore, the characters frequently whisper to each other, making it extremely difficult to hear the dialogue. 

As if that's not enough, the people running the experiment are speaking to each other throughout the entire movie.  They sound like they're talking via walkie-talkie, and they're using a space-mission type of jargon.  So, throughout the movie, you're subjected to bursts of static followed by tinny voices saying things like "Subject Delta has approached Subject Alpha at oh-four-hundred".  This wasn't done just once or twice; it was throughout the entire movie.

The two subjects with the most screen time are played by Nick Cannon and Timothy Hutton.  Both give admirable performances.  Clea DuVall is another test subject, but her role is quite limited.  Observing them the entire time is a doctor looking to join the testing organization, played by Chloë Sevigny. I enjoyed her performance very much.

It's an interesting movie with a frightening premise one can only hope is fiction.  But it's difficult to watch, for several reasons.  Still, if mind-control thrillers appeal to you, you might want to give The Killing Room a try.

Recommended: No

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age