Way back when in 2002, director Lucky McKee brought the creepy little tale of May. Starring Angela Bettis, May was a tale of loneliness and desperation as May reached out to try and make a friend out of anybody who would listen. The result was a fabulous psychological thriller that left the viewer a bit unnerved and thoroughly creeped by the end.
In 2006, Mckee and Bettis have reunited for the flick Roman, but this time around they've switched roles. Directed by Bettis and starring McKee, Roman is another tale of loneliness. This time around we see loneliness and desperation from the male's point of view with a different result.
McKee plays Roman, a factory worker who is painfully alone. It's not that he's not interested in other people or the fairer sex. Quite the opposite actually. Every day Roman returns home from work and watches forlornly out of his window for the arrival of his neighbor (Yay! Kristen Bell). Feigning an excuse to head to the mailbox, Roman places himself daily in close proximity to his neighbor in hopes she might notice him, yet he lacks the social skills to approach her or to even say hello. One day all that changes and she does happen to take notice. Soon Roman is basking in the attention of the lovely girl next door and his hopes begin to grow for something more. Thinking all is well, Roman makes his move until something goes terribly wrong.
Seeing as this movie is helmed by the same creative forces, it is hard not to review this one without drawing comparisons. They are very similar in scope, differing only in the driver behind the wheel. Looking at the two films in this light I'll flat out say Roman is not as good as May. The first film was something shocking and new at the time backed by relatively unknown staff. We go into Roman with preconceived notions about what to expect and in that light the outcome is somewhat diminished as you are awaiting something far more shocking to out-do the first. That is not to say this isn't a good flick however. It's just different.
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