Of course, Ploeger’s fantastic performance is another reason Alexis and her plight will so take you in. The actor is charming, confused, strong, and frustrated all at once. She attempts to get the police involved but gets annoyed at the repetitious answers she must provide. It’s both intense and very humorous, and Ploeger plays both angles perfectly.
She’s surrounded by an excellent supporting cast, namely Mars and Nicholson. Mars is empathetic and sweet as the slightly scummy but good-hearted Eric, and it is easy to see what would draw Alexis to him. Nicholson is gruff but never overplays the character as outright evil or without humanity. It’s a tricky balance, but he pulls it off.
“…Ploeger’s fantastic performance…”
But, then the final moments of The Roommate happen. The ending offers very few answers and, in fact, only brings more questions. Certain characters’ culpability in the mystery behind Brenda’s disappearance, if she ever existed, is hinted at earlier but is resolved without it being clear what this person’s hand in it all was or why (the big one) they’d do this. The introduction of two characters who may or may not be lying, only for the plot to ignore them after three minutes, further adds to the confusion.
With that being said, the penultimate scene, which involves Alexis in a car, does work as intended. This is because everyone watching is invested in her, thanks to the previously mentioned writing and acting. So, while the narrative’s wrap-up is more or less nonexistent, the character’s emotional arc is completed and compelling, meaning that the ride is still worth it.
The Roommate tantalizes with an intriguing premise right up until its lackluster conclusion. But thanks to the strong cast and stylish directing, there’s still plenty to enjoy. As such, while imperfect, those seeking a visually appealing, trippy mystery will have fun here.
To get more information on The Roommate, check out its Facebook page.
"…the movie Last Night In Soho ultimately failed to be..."
