The Room Next Door (2024)

It is remarkable that Almodóvar's first English language feature is a 2024 film. He has made such an indelible impact on cinema globally, and has made English short films, long before attempting a film in the English language, that one almost assumes that this couldn't be his first English feature. And he makes a credible go of it by casting two such incredible anglophone actors to head up this milestone. 

I went in a bit curious as I have always had a bit of a struggle with Almodóvar's films, finding them often to not have dialogue that feels natural. I wondered if that has to do with translation issues. But finally seeing him direct a narrative in my language I regret to say that his script feels as awkward and stunted regardless of the tongue. While there are moments of The Room Next Door that I appreciated, I often felt myself pulled from the story by how much of his dialogue, even when performed by these master actors, felt like a lecture and less like people talking. 

For me the film succeeds wildly for about 45 minutes in the middle. The lead into this was painfully cumbersome as the characters fumbled through backstory and set up in a way I felt was unrealistic. Then the ending came sort of crashing down from what was a lovely little moment in the middle where there felt like some human connection. Swinton plays two roles here and that didn't work for me, not on principle but in execution. I think the idea was brilliant but didn't pay off. 

Without spoiling it for those who haven't seen it but touching on points those who have will recognize, I wish the film had started with them arriving at the house and ended with Moore calling the ambulance. That section was so well done that it made the rough beginning and truly regrettable ending worth it for me. That and seeing Moore and Swinton work together which was a joy. There is a moment near the end that was used in marketing and even suggested in the film posters, a moment without dialogue where the two characters lay down together which is just exquisite. I wish much of the rest of the film held this sort of power. 

The Room Next Door

Starring: Tilda Swinton, Julianne Moore, John Turturro, Alessandro Nivola 

Writer/Director: Pedro Almodóvar