Should I watch?

Granted, a late reply! The short answer? No. I'd rather watch commercials. For those more cinematically inclined, I hope that my opinion serves to quash your curiousity concerning, "The Roost." The [ahem] film provides wannabe filmmakers with the important lesson that a concept alone cannot carry a film. Cinematography was dismal, as if shot without the presence of a director. (Whatever happened to the "Al Smithee" director credit?). If you find yourself thumbing through channels, or 'Net movie selections, and this is the best you can find, then turn of your TV, computer, iPad, and start the story you know will sell! If you have a screenplay ready, start on your storyboards, a production schedule, grab your camera gear and start filming! If you are more of a movie fan, read no more, find another flick, read a book or find the finer points of "The Roost," I missed and write a scathing reply!

The two antagonists in th film are never seen: the writer/director/editor, and his trusty cinematographer. Both demonstrated a lack of technical acumen, such as focus, lighting, dynamic range considerations, pointless editing choices in combination with poor writing. The writer/director/editor took a semi-interesting concept (for the genre) and made it appear as if it the story was made up on the spot, filmed without a completed script, without the use of storyboards, with predictable lines being tossed to the actors moments before the camera rolled. Such films have a tendency to make actors with potential, look bad.

There is good news! If "The Roost" can be unleashed on the unsuspecting public, on Showtime, no less as a "Feature Presentation," it should serve to provide strong encouragement to those who want to create a film. I know their are producers, directors, and screenwriters with great stories to tell. They have the necessary creativity, discipline, and the comprehension of the art, science and technology needed to tell their story ? a story that grabs the viewer from the first shot to the last. The market is extremely dynamic, the movie screen is no longer the sole destination for film. Digital filmaking (video) and digital distribution to multiple media has created a producer's market. A devoted motion picture storyteller has a much greater chance seeing their finished productions on DVD, cable, Netflix Hulu, Amazon, or on any of the other venues that are looking for product. It's time to put films like "The Roost," to rest!

I just bought a 4 pack including The Roost in it and decided to watch it first. I just got done the film and to be honest, it is one of the worst films I have seen in a while. I thought The Innkeepers was okay and I didn't like House of the Devil but even HOTD is miles better than The Roost. It has horrible acting, characters I couldn't stand, the direction is horrendous if you love shaky cam, by all means watch it. The score is also extremely annoying after a while. Tom Noonan is the only good thing about The Roost, and he is in it for a total of about 4 minutes.