Synopsis: Five minutes into the future, student Arnold Mosk (HARRIS) is caught using drugs. Without prejudice, he is placed in a new controversial rehabilitation program called the "Animal Room." It is a class room filled with students the facility deemed unable rehabilitate and unfit to be part of the student body. Out of his element, Arnold’s life is threatened by the anarchistic youths already there. Arnold is about to learn a new and valuable lesson, one his life depends on.

Crew: Director – Craig Singer; Screenplay – Craig Singer; Producers – Craig Singer & Sylvia Caminer; Cinematography - Amy Vincent; Editing - Sabine Hoffmann; Costume Designer - Kathy Vincent Gattuso; Production Design - Georges N. Krivobok.

Cast: NEIL PATRICK HARRIS... Arnold Mosk; MATTHEW LILLARD... Doug Van Housen; LORI HEURING... Shelly; BRIAN VINCENT... Eddie LeMaster; RYAN PAYNE BELL... Pink; DECHEN THURMAN... Hinge; EDDIE MALAVARCA... Porky; STEPHEN PEARLMAN... Principal Jones; JOSEPH SIRAVO... Dr. Rankin; AMANDA PEET... Debbie; CATHERINE HICKS... Mrs. Mosk.

Official Website: n.a.

DVD Extras:  Slim pickings. The only extras on this DVD are a cool looking menu, scene selection and the trailer.

Story:                      $19.95
Direction:                 $19.95
Acting:                    $19.95
Editing:                   $18.00
Production Design:  $18.00
Special Effects:       $19.95
Score/Music:          $19.95
Costumes:             $19.95
"REEL" Value*:      $19.46 – An independent film with teeth!

- Director/screenwriter Craig Singer marries a location easily at his disposal with a semi-futuristic tale, flavored with tones of the classic "A Clockwork Orange." This biting feature reaches another level of notoriety due to the amazing cast Singer is able to bring to this story. Working like a master conductor, Singer weaves these excellent performances of this young cast with a breathtaking New Jersey location. Singer builds tension and terror as he works the cast, demonstrating he is as much an accomplished actor’s director as he is a judicious technical one. THE ANIMAL ROOM is a tight, tense thriller that looks much bigger than its independent budget. In hindsight, there were a few scenes that I felt could have been edited a tad tighter and, with such a great location, I felt a couple of the production designs could have been flushed out a bit more to help give the film a more of a futuristic feel. Overall, THE ANIMAL ROOM is an especially interesting film to watch when you consider the breakout performances by now veteran actors Neil Patrick Harris, Matthew Lillard, and Amanda Peet. Given the current state of DVD technology, this is a film that I’m sure would have some good stories to tell if some money were put into a re-release with some true DVD extras.

{*Based on the Manufacture’s Suggested Retail Price of $19.95.}