The Roommate

Name: The Roommate
Genre: Drama, Thriller
Released: February 4, 2011
Rating: 23
Cast: Cam Gigandet, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly

2011

METASCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 16 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 71 Ratings

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4.0	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 71 Ratings

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The Roommate

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Movie Details & Credits

Screen Gems | Release Date: February 4, 2011 | PG-13

Starring: Cam Gigandet, Leighton Meester, Minka Kelly

Summary: A psychological thriller about a deranged college freshman who becomes obsessed with her new roommate. (Sony Pictures)

Director: Christian E. Christiansen

Genre(s): Drama, Thriller

Rating: PG-13

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Critic Reviews

Keith Uhlich

Feb 4, 2011

The film's sure-to-be-brief theatrical release is a mere stopover on the way to basic-cable eternity. Read full review

Frank Scheck

Feb 4, 2011

Managing nary a single original idea throughout its 93-minute running time, the film does benefit from a cast of sexy young TV stars who should attract the desired female teen demographic. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Feb 4, 2011

If ever a thriller were to inspire a collective "eh," it's got to be The Roommate. It's not a good movie, by any means, but it's also not bad enough to have fun hating on. Read full review

Scott Tobias

Feb 4, 2011

A deplorable unofficial reworking of "Single White Female." Read full review

Wesley Morris

Feb 5, 2011

It's the latest in the blank-from-hell genre, in which misogyny and entertainment are made to seem indistinguishable while the blank makes life hell for someone who then is cornered into striking back. Read full review

Jeannette Catsoulis

Feb 4, 2011

Substituting sex for suspense and pop music for ideas, the director Christian E. Christiansen drags The Roommate from limp beginning to lame conclusion. Read full review

Marjorie Baumgarten

Feb 9, 2011

It's only February but I can already name the year's winner of Most Thoughtless Gay Stereotype in Film award. The dubious honor goes to The Roommate. Read full review

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User Reviews

molsonman78

Sep 26, 2011

who had the idea to make a stupid movie like this? jeez us regular run of the mill douche bag, young punk directors, thats who, go to hell, these movies these days are all retarded, and if I wanted to watch some stupid skinny white chick get screwed over, I would just go home.

1 of 2 users found this helpful11

Blitzcrag

Jun 12, 2011

It's simple but I liked it. The roommate character is freakin' creepy, what else did you people want to watch? Sure the story isn't the most original, but it's really kinda good.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Meth-dude

Dec 16, 2017

Long story short, this is a bad movie. From the medium acting, to the very stupid actions from the characters to the bad writing, this is a prime example of how not to do a PG-13 "horror" if you can call it that, movie. While from this review it would seem that this is an awful movie, itLong story short, this is a bad movie. From the medium acting, to the very stupid actions from the characters to the bad writing, this is a prime example of how not to do a PG-13 "horror" if you can call it that, movie. While from this review it would seem that this is an awful movie, it still managed to be pretty entertaining and I enjoyed watching it. If you're expecting a creepy, violent or even good horror movie, you should watch something else. But if you only want to be entertained and you have an hour and a half to lose, you should give it a chance.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

MrScallops

Jun 19, 2019

"The Roommate" is utterly ruined by a paper-thin plot stretched out out to the extreme; lazy writing in the suspense department and and idiotic protagonist with idiotic dialogue.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Shiira

Feb 11, 2011

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. "Single White Female" just turned eighteen, the age of an incoming college freshman. Now look what just came out of the woodworks. "The Roommate" has an animal slaying, a lecherous man who makes an unwanted pass at its heroine, and an unbalanced woman who tries to change herself into a doppleganger, similar to the perennial basic cable favorite. This familiar seeming story carries so many of the Barbet Schroeder film's traits, the moviegoer can only assume that the baby "S.W.F." is his. In "Single White Female", a computer consulting maven places an ad for a warm body to help occupy her rent-controlled apartment, a replacement for a philandering husband, and ends up with the roommate from hell. The ad read "professional preferred", not "murderess wanted". But there you go. With its two leads, Bridget Fonda and Jennifer Jason Leigh, the filmmaker took full advantage of the disparity in looks between the actresses, in which Fonda(a natural beauty by anybody's standards), as Allison Jones, teaches Hedra("Hedy" for short), played by Leigh(a modest-looking thespian not known for turning heads), how to dress, when the mismatched women go shopping, in what perhaps is the film's most pivotal scene. Moviegoers forget that "Single White Female" starts off as a femme version of "Pygmallion", before it turns into "Pygmallion On Her Own". Likewise, "The Roommate", starring Minka Jones, portraying the part of a hayseed fashion design student, takes it upon herself to reinvent the woman sharing proximal living space with her, but the woman she mentors, Leighton Messner, in a move that's somewhat detrimental to the film's internal logic, is as hot, or hotter than Jones, and probably doesn't need tips on sartorial matters, because her character, the self-possessed Rebecca, is a self-described "clotheshorse", privileged and snooty, who normally wouldn't be caught dead in the Iowa girl's vintage clothing. "The Roommate" takes a shortcut; it foregoes the "She's All That"-like process of transforming an ugly ducking into a swan, and presents Rebecca as a finished product. Being that the film is already formulaic and derivative, why be half-assed about its banality? Slap on some ungainly glasses and an array of self-defeating outfits on the blonde art major because it's easier to root for a dorky schizophrenic than a beautiful one. "The Roommate" fails to capture the best thing about "Single White Female", and that's how love, albeit a love riddled with disease, makes us want to be somebody else. Scarily, in Allison's case, that somebody Hedy wants to be, is her. Conversely, in "The Roommate", there may be a question as to who wants to be who, more. As Sarah eyeballs Rebecca's palatial estate, you hear the loaded girl downplaying her exorbitant wealth, which in turn, makes us hate the"modest" girl on a personal level, unlike Hedra, who remained sympathetic to the very end, in spite of her murderous shenanigans. Who is the alpha girl? Sarah loses her outright agency, she has a formidable opponent who is both rich and beautiful. Yes, the young woman is friendless, but that could be due in part to her entitled demeanor, a social defect that has nothing to do with her schizophrenia. For "The Roommate" to work, Rebecca needs to be the underdog. The poor little rich girl has no character arc. In "Single White Female", Hedra starts off as sane; she shows off an incorruptible side of her, the side untouched by madness, her true self, before the voices take over. The moviegoer understands why Allison takes a shine to the shy woman. On the other hand,"The Roommate" gives Messner one note to play, all bum ones, as the filmmaker conveys Rebecca's dark side, right off the bad, conveyed through lighting, which turns into an ongoing motif; her constant walking in shadows. Since we know that Rebecca is crazy from the outset, we wonder why Sarah doesn't see it too.… Expand

2 of 3 users found this helpful21

slam_tastic

Feb 9, 2011

There are millions of movies; over 8 million horrors; and I was stuck with this one. The roommate was a stereotypical college horror movie that had no surprises whatsoever or anything that exceeded expectation. The movie was extremely predictable and you could of easily missed the entireThere are millions of movies; over 8 million horrors; and I was stuck with this one. The roommate was a stereotypical college horror movie that had no surprises whatsoever or anything that exceeded expectation. The movie was extremely predictable and you could of easily missed the entire first half of it and still pick it all up. It was a thriller that was just plain awful, but yet I couldn't look away.… Expand

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

itm741

Feb 6, 2011

A thriller the whole family can dislike. Why can't my review be less than 150 characters? WTF! What more can I say about this movie other than that it is boring, stupid and a waste of my time and money. Be sure to try to avoid getting dragged to it like I did.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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