JACKSONVILLE – “Room 0” is the first full-length feature film directed by Richard Kodai. The sci-fi drama has an interesting premise – it is a self-contained story taking place entirely in a motel room.

For film lovers who are patient and open-minded, “Room 0” is a cozy, introspective adventure.

The film begins with a young woman entering a motel while trafficking a mysterious device, which inadvertently triggers while in her possession. When she tries to leave her room, time rewinds to when she first enters. Again, she tries to leave. Again, she is back where she started. She realizes the device she was ordered to transport has temporal power, and she has just been ensnared in its time loop. 

It’s like “Ground Hog Day” in a motel.

Outside of her prison, the woman learns that a crime boss is hunting her for the temporal device. She must learn how to use the device to break out of the motel, but luckily, she has all the time in the world.

The one-room movie allows Kodai to craft a thought-provoking story because, unfortunately, he did not have a massive Hollywood budget to do so.

“As a filmmaker, I knew I wanted to make a feature film – which is not cheap. I was chasing bigger budgets for years. What is the cheapest setting we can do? One person, one room. I can raise money for that. I only need a few grand. What can I bring out of that concept? I can’t play with space, but I can play with time. So, what does that give me?” said Kodai.

The indie filmmaker was inspired by time loops in sci-fi movies, the cinematography in other one-room movies, “save states” in video games and Choose Your Adventure novels.

“We shot (“Room 0”) over five days in a Jacksonville motel. It was challenging. It was a lot of fun. It’s always fun to be on set. If it’s not fun, you’re not doing filmmaking right.”

I am impressed with Kodai’s commitment to his vision. “Room 0” offers a unique, methodical viewing experience.

What “Room 0” does best is letting the viewer’s imagination run wild. If you are suddenly trapped in a motel room armed with a cell phone, a handgun and a device that can reset time to fight a gangster threatening your family, what would you do?

Here is the link to the trailer:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9NvJR4vKGU.

Here is the pre-order link. Your contribution will support local artists.  https://apple.co/497C4Ca