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Chloë Sevigny, Peter Stormare, Clea DuVall, Timothy Hutton, Nick Cannon ... see more see more... , Shea Whigham , Anoop Kaur Sikand , Bill Stinchcomb , Luke Sexton , Meade Patton

Four volunteers sign up for what initially appears to be a typical paid research study, only to discover that they've unwittingly become involved with a classified government program that was said to ... read more read more...have been terminated nearly two decades ago, in this tense psychological thriller from director Jonathan Liebesman (Darkness Falls, Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning). The allure of a little extra cash proving too powerful to resist, four strangers decide to partake in a paid research study. As the study gets underway, the group is presented with a series of questions, and given a finite window of time in which each individual member must submit a unique numerical answer. At first, the participants all assume that the subject who gives the most obviously incorrect answer will be removed from the experiment, though it doesn't take long for the group to realize that the correct answer isn't always the answer that the researchers are looking for. Meanwhile, as the brooding Dr. Phillips (Peter Stormare) attempts to manipulate the study to get the answers he wants, the newest member of his team, military psychologist Ms. Reilly (Chloë Sevigny) begins questioning the ethics of such a diabolical experiment. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

Flixster Users

39% liked it

2,174 ratings

Critics

67% liked it

6 critics

R, 1 hr. 30 min.

Directed by: Jonathan Liebesman

Release Date: January 16, 2009

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DVD Release Date: October 13, 2009

Stats: 392 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (392)

  • FiLmCrAzY
    June 5, 2011
    FiLmCrAzY
    I really enjoyed the concept of this movie, but the way it was executed and portrayed was just boring and uninteresting enough to make it a good movie.
  • Deano78
    June 1, 2011
    Deano78
    A rather simple and poor thriller. I can't believe Clea Duvall has such a small part. Similar to quite a few films, although I wouldn't say it's like the Saw films. It's more like Cube, House of 9, The Experiment.
  • allan913
    April 20, 2011
    allan913
    A triumph from Director, Jonathan Liebesman. An intensely entertaining and utterly unpredictable edge of your seat thriller. A brilliant, taut, twisted, stylish and electrifying film. A great movie. It's a knockout. A heart-pounding, bone-chilling and relentlessly exhilarating ps... read moreychological thriller that delivers pulse-racing suspense and keeps you guessing right till the explosive conclusion. It runs on fear-fuel as well as gut-wrenching terror. The cast all deliver riveting performances. Theirs some surprisingly strong work being done by Timothy Hutton, Nick Cannon and Shea Whigham. Peter Stormare gives a chilling and gripping performance. A solidly crafted film with a lot going for it. A gripping and compelling nail-biter that delivers unbelievable tension from beginning to end. This film is an experiment...in awesome and works well.
  • 76Majikat
    January 28, 2011
    76Majikat
    The Killing Room isn't an original idea, it's one of those phase Horror/Thriller themes replicated in many other films.

    To give it credit, the acting isn't too bad, but it is painfully slow moving with a bit of a dampner of an ending.
  • LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    October 13, 2010
    LorenzoVonMatterhorn
    "The most valuable asset any country can attain is control of the human mind."

    Four individuals sign up for a psychological research study only to discover that they are now subjects of a brutal, classified government program.

    ... read moreok">REVIEW
    The film is a taut, effective psychological thriller and character study. It's not entirely novel, but it's well done and could possibly be set on a stage as a play. The set is not elaborate, taking place almost entirely in a white, locked room, and the pacing relies on dialogue and Deus ex Machina, as well as what Hitchcock called MacGuffins, e.g., the gun, the clock, the questions on notes, etc. These types of plot devices are common in thrillers, and they're used to decent effect here. I will agree somewhat with people who found a lot of the dialogue to be very quiet, almost mumbled, particularly when the crew were communicating over the radio. I had the volume up and could hear it, but I believe it was done for a reason and has the effect of subtly adding tension (if you can hear it), and it's likely done for a reason by the researchers. Indeed, everything that happens in the film can be considered part of the experiment. Or perhaps not ..
  • erika250
    September 8, 2010
    erika250
    too slow
  • bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    July 27, 2010
    bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb1
    really good, wierd, suspenseful movie. B+
  • roygutteridge
    March 25, 2010
    roygutteridge
    Unremittingly gripping and unnerving, The Killing Room transforms a simple premise into an almost unbearably tense experience.
  • cacutshaw
    July 13, 2010
    cacutshaw
    Throw a bunch of people in a room and threaten them with death and see how they react.  Mediocre film elevated by performances by Chloe Sevigny, Peter Stormare and Timothy Hutton.
  • DrStrangeblog
    January 30, 2010
    DrStrangeblog
    I should've paid more attention to the overall Flixster score and my friends' ratings rather than a couple well-written reviews in its favor. Starts off somewhat interesting but evolves into an overly self-serious, implausible, ineffectual Saw/Cube retread. The sound is terribl... read moree too, much of the dialogue is mumbled or whispered and backed by a near-constant ambient C-grade mood music score merely intended to manipulate your emotions with appropriate surges but merely irritates. Timothy Hutton is actually pretty good as The Edge from U2 on the dole here. However not worth watching for Chloe Sevigny even if you have to see everything she's done since all she does is stare blankly either at a video screen or through a window. OK she cries once for about 5 seconds, but don't think that's worth the plastic it's recorded on. Maybe 1.5 stars is a little harsh but it's not as good as 'When Strangers Appear,' the last thrillerish movie I saw which got 2, so tough shit 'Killing Room,' timing is everything.

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Critic Reviews

Rob Nelson
September 1, 2009
Rob Nelson, Variety

A high-concept/low-impact twist on torture porn, The Killing Room will likely do its slaying on DVD. Full Review

Paul Chambers
October 20, 2009
Paul Chambers, CNNRadio

Going out on a limb to say I like this one. Interesting plot, though highly unlikely...even during the Bush Administration. A fair amount of suspense as well. Paul Chambers, CNN. Full Review

Larry Carroll
August 3, 2009
Larry Carroll, MTV

Brutal, daring and utterly unpedictable - three qualities quite rare in movies these days. Full Review

Tim Grierson
May 9, 2009
Tim Grierson, Screen International

Unremittingly gripping and unnerving, The Killing Room transforms a simple premise into an almost unbearably tense experience. Full Review

Scott Weinberg
March 3, 2009
Scott Weinberg, FEARnet

One feels a sense of gratitude when a horror-thriller even bothers with unexpected divergences or surprises that feel relatively satisfying. Full Review

Eric D. Snider
January 16, 2009
Eric D. Snider, EricDSnider.com

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The Killing Room Trivia

  • What were the sweet old lady aunts doing that so surprised Cary Grant in 'Arsenic and Old Lace'?  Answer »
  • Why was Freddy Kruger thrown into the broiler??? Choose the correct answer: for killing animals for hurting children for murdering a small town for killing a nun for shooting up a church he wasn't...the building he was in (which had a boiler room) was set on fire  Answer »
  • What movie is this? Bijori Philips, James Murray, Skye Bennett and Raphael Coleman starred in this film wherein a mutant monster killed a doctor and nurses in the delivery room. Police had no clue who is behind the killing.  Answer »
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