![Romi 2023](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Romi-cover.jpg)
Romi is a 2023 Canadian sci-fi horror, written by Susie Moloney, and directed by Robert Cuffley. Susie is most notable as a writer on the TV shows Blackstone (2015), and Fear Thy Neighbor (2016), as well as on the feature-length film Bright Hill Road (2020). Robert is known for directing features such as Eyes for You (1996), Turning Paige (2001), and Ferocious (2013) to name a few. The film is based on the 2019 short film of the same name, written and directed by the duo.
After experiencing a traffic accident and fleeing the scene, Maddie is sent to a state-of-the-art smart house to lie low by her mother who holds a position in politics. However, after arriving, the house’s fully operational A.I. system called Romi begins to terrorise Maddie over her past misdeeds.
One of Romi‘s strengths lies in its ability to blend traditional horror elements with cutting-edge science fiction concepts. Whilst the film hardly explores new territory, following the same beaten path explored in other films, it certainly incorporates a more realistic, down-to-earth setting due to the significant advancements in AI tech. Additionally, the film enforces strong undertones of isolation and loneliness, with Maddie’s already strained relationship with her mother pushing her further into realms of seclusion. With Romi being the only real company Maddie has during her stay when even her AI companion begins to become more distant, this despondency certainly becomes palpable.
Whilst the cinematography in Romi is entirely serviceable throughout, doing an exceptional job at visually presenting this high-tech domicile as barren and desolate, it scarcely delivers anything out of the ordinary in its framing. However, where the film does stand out is its subtle influence of colour throughout the film. Featuring a mostly washed-out colour scheme, the implementation of coloured lighting and post-production tinting produce an adroit influence over a scene’s tone.
Being driven forward with some fantastic performances from Romi’s two main protagonists, Maddie and Barkley, played by Alexa Barajas and Jaun Reidinger respectively. Being centre stage throughout the film, the pair deliver a purposely awkward chemistry between each other that only seems to grow as the film progresses.
Diligently paced and featuring some great performances, Romi delivers an incredibly grounded science fiction tale of a ghost in the machine. However, with a twist ending that was fairly obvious early on, the film fails at divulging its story with the shock value intended. Whilst the film certainly has its moments of style, this isn’t enough to create a memorable piece of cinema and is likely to be forgotten.
We Watched Romi (2023) at Blood in the Snow Film Festival 2023
More Film Festival Coverage
Summer in Montreal is always an exciting time. Downtown, Ste. Catherine Street is cordoned off from traffic beneath de Bleury for the Jazz Festival, where past years featured free outdoor… So, has Dario Argento finally made a real comeback? Is it any good? Yes, he has, and yes it is. Just in case you don’t know with whom we are… If you ask a Western horror fan, they can probably tell you exactly when they first heard about Hideo Nakata’s cult classic Ringu (1998). Whether it was due to the… Pareidolia is a 2023 short horror film directed by Aaron Truss, whose previous work includes the wonderful full-length documentary Cult of VHS (2022). Amazingly, this newest project was brought to… Thorns (2023) is an American sci-fi horror, written and directed by Douglas Schulze. Well-versed behind the camera, Douglas is most known as the writer/director of such films as Hellmaster (1992),… Necronomicon: Evocative Magic is a 2019 fantasy horror, directed by Mitsunori Hasegawa. Mitsunori is known for directing Onigokko (2013) and Machiawase (2013) and has also won the Grand Prize at…Tombs of the Blind Dead Film Review (1972): Fantasia Fest 2021
Dark Glasses (2022) Film Review – Dario Argento’s Comeback
The J-Horror Virus (2023) Documentary Review – How Japanese Horror went from Tape to Trend
Pareidolia (2023) Review – A Short Film with Big Scare [FrigthFest]
Thorns (2023) Film Review – Natural Thorn Killer [FrightFest]
Necronomicon: Evocative Magic (2019) Film Review – I Have the Weirdest Boner Right Now!
![Jim Cox Profile Pic](https://www.grimoireofhorror.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/new.jpg)
Hey there, I’m Jim and I’m located in London, UK. I am a Writer and Managing Director here at Grimoire of Horror. A lifelong love of horror and writing has led me down this rabbit hole, allowing me to meet many amazing people and experience some truly original artwork. I specialise in world cinema, manga/graphic novels, and video games but will sometime traverse into the unknown in search of adventure.