Dying Room Only

A favorite t.v. movie from the 70's. Again, Richard Matheson creates atmosphere and suspense out of almost nothing as a couple stops at a remote diner/motel and the husband never returns from the bathroom. From the bathroom? Who writes a suspense movie where the husband apparently falls in the toilet? The man who brought you the vindictive 16 wheeler of "Duel." Unlike that clever but overpraised feature, "D.R.O." (What's up with that title? It can't be a play on "S.R.O." can it? You don't buy tickets for the toilet?) stays close to realistic scale, and the less than apocalyptic climax is a face-off by two determined middle-aged women. Complain all you want - it worked for me then, it works for me now.

You've read the plot for this television film on this page. What can I add? A married couple pulls up to a seedy diner on the way home from vacation. They are smack in the middle of nowhere, somewhere in the desert.

They encounter a nasty cook and a goof-ball customer. Both enter the bathrooms to wash up. She comes out, but he does not. She knocks on the door calling to him. No answer.

The fun begins. Kind of spooky at times. Good entertainment. Cloris Leachman is very good in this film. So are Ross Martin and Ned Beatty. And Dana Elcar does a good job as the sheriff. Oh, and the husband is a very young Dabney Coleman.

I would love to see this one again.

Apparently there was enough interest in "Dying Room Only" that made Warner Bros. release this on DVD on 1/19/10. Its on a web-site called www.warnerarchive.com. This is also a re-mastered print which isn't too common for made-for-TV-movies. I just ordered mine and it is definitely worth the investment. TV airings of this movie have all since passed and probably won't get the time of day any longer, so the DVD is worth it's weight in gold. ($19.99) It is crystal clear and the movie is un-cut. There aren't any extras or special features but it is still a treat. Kudos to Warner Bros!! (who has the Lorimar Productions library of movies).

Dying Room Only is another one of those great 70's made-for-TV movies. This one is about a couple (Jean and Bob) travelling on a desert road who stop at a roadside diner/motel. The two people they meet in the diner are your typical angry, rude, city hating hicks. When Jean returns from the restroom, her husband is missing. The two men do not help her out at all with her search, in fact make things even more difficult for her. She calls the sheriff, but he ends up being no help. Did the two men do something to Bob, or did he simply take off leaving his wife deserted in the desert?

This is such a great little gem. Cloris Leachman is great as the heroine, you feel how helpless she feels when trying to get one of the men to help her find Bob. She is a very rootable character. There are some pretty tense moments throughout as well near the middle to end of it, pretty good for a TV movie. I was pleased to find out this was released on DVD, if you can find it for an affordable price; pick it up.

8/10

All must view this priceless gem.It creates a delicious sense of dread. Cloris Leachman's performance is unequalled.