Part of a "special" late-nite television program...Four friends on their way to a wedding find themselves marooned on a mysterious farm. Creatures of the night awaken and the undead rise, as a night of relentless horror...Begins!
The Roost, writer-director Ti West's homage to low-budget '70s horror movies, places a premium on tension while taking a fresh bite out of the old vampire-bat tale.
– Kevin Crust,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Oct 2005
rotten:
The Roost is a minimalist horror movie with more ambition than resources.
– Jeannette Catsoulis,
New York Times,
20 Oct 2005
rotten:
West gets an enthusiastic round of applause for trusting his eye for stripped-down horror. Now he needs to complete the picture with writing that shows the same conviction.
– Janice Page,
Boston Globe,
21 Oct 2005
rotten:
The Roost's pacing is so leaden that you long for a pregnant pause, instead of interminable nothingness.
– Bruce Westbrook,
Houston Chronicle,
21 Oct 2005
fresh:
The director makes the most of the tense slow stretches, with the camera occasionally drifting off in search of action while characters wait in dreadful silence.