The Oak Room is a 2020 Canadian thriller film directed by Cody Calahan and starring RJ Mitte, Peter Outerbridge, and Ari Millen. The film is based on the stage play of the same name by Peter Genoway.
The film revolves around Steve (RJ Mitte), a drifter who returns to his hometown during a snowstorm and takes refuge in a bar called The Oak Room. The bartender, Paul (Peter Outerbridge), is skeptical of Steve's intentions, but he agrees to hear him out. Steve offers to settle an old debt with Paul by telling him a story, and this sets off a series of unexpected events.
Through a series of flashbacks and stories within stories, Steve weaves a complicated tale about a man named Michael (Ari Millen) who owes him a debt. As the night wears on and the snowstorm intensifies, Paul's skepticism turns to fear as he realizes that the stories Steve is telling him may not be entirely true. As the tension builds, the film takes several unexpected twists and turns, culminating in a shocking climax that leaves the audience reeling.
The Oak Room is a tense and atmospheric thriller that showcases strong performances from its cast and a well-crafted script that keeps the audience guessing until the very end. The film has been praised for its moody cinematography and its clever use of storytelling techniques, which add to the overall sense of unease and paranoia that permeates the film.
