The brilliance of the concept lies in its constraints. By restricting the physical setting, Khoo forces the audience to focus intensely on the human element. The room becomes a vessel—a silent witness to the most intimate, vulnerable, and sometimes tragic moments of human existence. The walls do not move, but the world outside changes drastically. We see the shifts in language, fashion, social mores, and political climate purely through the interactions of the characters who temporarily call this space home.
Due to its R21 content and distribution challenges, In the Room is not widely available on major streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, HBO) in most regions. As of 2025, it can be found:
Titled simply yet evocatively, In the Room (2015) is a film that defies easy categorization. It is an anthology, a historical tapestry, and a sensory experience that spans nearly half a century of Singapore’s history. By locking the camera inside a single location—a hotel room—Khoo creates a hermetic universe where time flows like a river, washing over the occupants with the tides of history, desire, and inevitable decay.
A Japanese novelist (Nobuyuki Matsuhisa) recovering from a war wound hires a shy Peranakan girl (Bibi Nur Aishah) to transcribe his manuscript. As she reads his erotic prose aloud, physical tension builds, culminating in a silent, consensual encounter. This segment explores the power of language and the unspoken. In the Room -2015-2015
, the sexual encounters serve as a gateway to deeper themes of loneliness and the search for human connection
This segment features a rock star, Damien (based on the real-life Singaporean artist Damien Sin ), whose tragic drug overdose leaves him a haunting presence in the room for decades to follow.
In the Room is structured as an anthology film, weaving together six stories that differ wildly in tone and genre, yet share a unifying thread of eroticism and longing. The brilliance of the concept lies in its constraints
As the timeline progresses, so does the social fabric of Singapore. This segment is lighter, touching on the lives of a transsexual woman and her lover. It captures the vibrant, pre-independence era where the hotel was a hub of activity. Khoo handles the subject matter with his trademark empathy, showcasing the marginalization of LGBTQ+ characters in a time when their existence was even more taboo than today. The room here is a safe haven for those who cannot exist freely in the public eye.
At its core, In the Room was a show about trauma, identity, and the search for meaning in a chaotic world. Each episode featured a new patient, struggling to cope with their inner demons, and the therapist's unconventional methods often led to unexpected breakthroughs and confrontations. Through these intense, emotionally charged sessions, the show tackled topics such as PTSD, addiction, and relationship issues, shedding light on the complexities of the human condition.
This chapter is often cited as the emotional heart of the film. It features a ménage à trois involving two women and a man. The 1970s setting brings a mood of introspection and artistic ennui. The segment explores the fluidity of sexuality and the complexities of love triangles. The title refers to the artistic pursuits of the characters, highlighting how the room serves as a space for creativity as well as carnal exploration. It captures the "hippie" or bohemian undercurrent of the The walls do not move, but the world
Audience reaction in Singapore was muted due to the R21 rating limiting screenings. However, the film became a cult hit on the international festival circuit (Busan, Tokyo, San Sebastian).
In the Room (2015) is a bold, erotic drama directed by that explores the human condition through the lens of a single location: Room 2706 of the fictitious Singapura Hotel. Spanning several decades, the film uses this static setting to witness the shifting cultural, social, and emotional landscapes of Singapore. The Room as a Silent Witness