Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • February 16, 2011 Director raided cliché closet to make ‘The Roommate’ by Dennis Seuling There are two kinds of horror movies: the fantastic and those based on the familiar. Vampires, werewolves, and homicidal aliens fall into the first category, and are fun primarily because they have little to do with the here and now. The second category is often more unsettling, precisely because the horrors depicted are possible: calculated torture, unbridled vengeance, or the depravities of demented minds. “The Roommate” belongs in this second category. The movie starts tamely enough as Sara (Minka Kelly) from Iowa checks into her Los Angeles college, where she soon meets her roommate Rebecca (Leighton Meester), a local. They hit it off, but a budding friendship soon devolves into something sinister. Rebecca has her quirks. She wants to know where Sara is whenever they’re not together, eavesdrops on Sara’s phone calls, and shadows Sara around campus. Rebecca becomes jealous of another dorm mate, Tracy (Aly Michalka), a girl who likes to party, flirt with hot guys, get drunk, and pass out. Rebecca sees Tracy as a bad influence and determines to do something about it. There are three men in Sara’s life: a former boyfriend who calls frequently; Steven (Cam Gigandet), whom she meets at a frat party; and a fashion professor (Billy Zane) who comes on to her. When Rebecca learns of these relationships, she decides it’s time to simplify Sara’s life. “The Roommate” isn’t a bad film, just a predictable one. Viewers know what is coming way before the scenes are played out. Director Christian E. Christensen raids the cliché closet in his tepid attempts to rustle up some scares. Rebecca’s actions become crazier as she becomes more of a danger to Sara and all who cross her deadly path, but in ways any fan of horror movies can see coming a mile away. Clearly a low-budget effort, “The Roommate” does not compensate for its meager production values with imagination. With its PG-13 rating, the film never rises above the level of a TV flick. Meester’s Rebecca is beautiful, well-spoken, and puts on a pleasant demeanor when she is not plotting how to insinuate herself into Sara’s life or eliminate all her social contacts. She becomes enraged at perceived slights, feels isolated when Sara is with others, and goes into an emotional tailspin that prompts her to violence. There are reasons Rebecca acts this way, but they are revealed late in the film, well after viewers have figured them out. With its predictable plot and stock characters, the movie offers little suspense. Audiences may be curious to see what Rebecca’s next scheme will be, but there isn’t the intense viewer involvement a movie like this needs to succeed. Kelly makes her way through the movie looking fabulous, but is hardly able to handle the role’s more dramatic Minka Kelly and Leighton Meester in ‘The Roommate.’ moments. She is adept at looking perky and sweet, but has a rougher time in a drunk scene and in her reactions to horrendous happenings. A pedestrian effort, “The Roommate” is a ho-hum horror thriller short on thrills. As the fictional Miss Jean Brodie once said, “For those who like this sort of thing, this is the sort of thing they like.” Biennial Kitchen Tour to benefit health programs The Valley Hospital Auxiliary will host its 15th Biennial Kitchen Tour on Wednesday, May 18 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will feature 10 extraordinary kitchens in Glen Rock, Franklin Lakes, Ridgewood, Saddle River, and Wyckoff. Proceeds from this event will support The Valley Hospital Auxiliary’s pledge to the Maternal Fetal Medicine Unit and Valley Home Care’s Maternal Child Health Program. Tickets are $45 per person and include the opportunity to win a door prize. For more information, call Elaine Heimberger at (201) 337-0235. At left: Members of the Kitchen Tour Committee include (seated) Gabrielle Winnert, Heather Scaturo, Adeline Webb, and Joyce Srednicki; and (standing) Co-Chair Elaine Heimberger, Co-Chair Elaine Weg, Gina Venner, Carol Gillespie, Joan Doherty, Lois Vitenson, and Auxiliary President Nancy Davidson. State Line 375 State Highway 17 North, Mahwah Open 24 Hours, 7 Days Join Us For Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner The Best Got Better! Cook Up Some Business! Advertise your restaurant in The Villadom TIMES. Diner - Restaurant 201-529-3353 Now Serving Cocktails, Espresso & Cappuccino $ 00 On $10.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. State Line Diner VT Off 1 $ 00 On $20.00 and over. With this coupon only. One Coupon per table. 5:00 to 9:00 pm only. State Line Diner VT Off 2 You’ll reach 56,300 households. 201-652-0744 www.villadom.com