THE DISAPPOINTMENTS ROOM
US, 2016, 85 minutes, Colour.
Kate Beckinsale, Mel Raido, Duncan Joiner, Lucas Till, Marcia De Rousse, Celia Weston, Gerald Mc Raney.
Directed by D.J.Caruso.
This is a small horror film directed by D. J. Caruso, director of such interesting films as Taking Lives, Disturbia, Eagle Eye. These make this particular film seem rather slight and there is a deal of comment indicating that scenes were edited out from the finished release.
The plot is fairly basic. A professional architect is emotionally and mentally disturbed by the death of her daughter. Her husband brings her and their son to an old house in the countryside which she can re-build and redecorate. When she goes into town, she hears stories about the house and its former inhabitants and an old lady at the library gives her documentation.
The architect has dreams, suffers in her imagination, seeing a dark black hound, images of 19th-century people, the man, especially, threatening in her nightmares. At some stages, she cannot tell the difference between reality and dreams, even threatening her son. A young local man also helps in the work around the house.
The title refers to a room in 19th-century mansions for the exclusive use of a family who wants to isolate a child who has physical or mental disabilities, keeping them from knowledge of neighbours, keeping them out of the light. With the past family, the mother cares for a disabled daughter but the father kills her.
Eventually, sanity’s sake, the family returned to the city. American story but, interestingly, but Kate Beckinsale and Mel Raido are British.
1. Haunted house and ghosts film?
2. The American countryside, the small town, the isolated mansion, dilapidated, in need of repair, the surrounding woods? The musical score?
3. Dana, David and Lucas, driving, singing Gilbert and Sullivan, the cheery atmosphere, finding the house, going in, the new atmosphere, settling in?
4. The background of the birth of the daughter, the flashbacks, the death of the daughter, the anniversary? The effect on Dana, her mental collapse? Her being the successful architect, in the steps of her father, the company? David and his support? The concern for Lucas in the aftermath of the death?
5. The atmosphere of the house, the dilapidated aspects, the rain and the leaking, the secret rooms, the door locking Dana in, her cries for help, not heard?
6. The beginnings of the apparitions? The ladies at the shops and library, their information, atmosphere? Dana and her mental condition? Seeing the dog, in her dreams, pursuing Lucas? The increasing dreams? The background of the Black family? The old lady and the information about the Disappointment Room?
7. Disappointment Room, children with disabilities, their being hidden away, no contact with the outside world? The sadness of their lives, death? The information about the Black family? Their daughter? The visualising of the scenes, Mrs Black and her concern, feeding the daughter, caring for her? The daughter and her disfigurement? The Father, stern, killing his daughter? The various apparitions? The photos to one the posters?
8. David, genial, looking after Lucas, caring for his wife, concern? The repair of the house? Ben and his arrival, Dana very wary, bringing her business sense? David employing him? And and his insinuations, the smoking of the cigarette, Dana’s reaction? Dana taking a stand? David having to go wait the city, concern? Going to see the therapist? The advice to have friends come? The anniversary of Catherine’s birth, the party, Dana drinking, her outbursts, the birthday cake, her anger, smashing things? David trying to comfort her?
9. The continued nightmares, concern about Lucas, thinking the dog pursuing him, finding him in the forest, bring him home? Thinking that Mr Black was killing him and her attack on Lucas? David restraining her?
10. The truth about what it happened? Dana having to cope – and their moving back to the city?
