Mark O’Brien is set to star in the indie crime thriller Good in the Room, a project he co-wrote with Canadian filmmaker Pat Kiely, who will direct. The film is currently in production in Montreal and features a cast that includes Laysla De Oliveira, Andrew “King Bach” Bachelor, and Eric Bruneau in key roles.
O’Brien, known for his work in Ready or Not and Arrival, plays former hockey player Charlie, who teams up with ex-teammate Julius, portrayed by Bachelor, to rob the sport’s biggest star and Charlie’s best friend, JP, played by Bruneau. Additional cast members include Maia Jae and Juliette Gariepy.
The story draws inspiration from 1970s crime thrillers such as The Friends of Eddie Coyle, Straight Time, and Thief, with the entire film being shot on 16mm. Kiely and O’Brien, both entering middle age, use the genre to explore themes of jealousy, envy, and loyalty through the lens of hockey.
“I’ve always been drawn to stories about men who make one wrong turn and can’t find their way back,” O’Brien said. “As Pat and I entered middle age, we wanted to use the crime thriller to examine jealousy, envy and loyalty and felt our shared experience around playing and loving the sport of hockey was the perfect lens to do so.”
Kiely, whose previous directorial credits include Who is KK Downey? and Three Night Stand, described the project as rooted in Montreal’s hockey culture and the economics of success in both sports and entertainment. “I’m deeply grateful to the team bringing this film to life, born out of Montreal’s obsession with hockey and the brutal economics of success that play out on both the ice and in the entertainment industry,” Kiely said.
Production is handled by Banner House Productions and Grand Touring Productions, with support from Telefilm Canada, SODEC, and Crave. The film will be released by Maison 4:3 in Quebec and Photon Films elsewhere in Canada, while ROW sales remain open.
Producers include Kiely alongside Philippe Chabot and Julian Geneen, with executive producers Ryan Bobkin, Albert Shin, Mark Slone, Sardé Hardie, and O’Brien. Evan Dubinsky serves as co-producer.
O’Brien recently wrapped his directorial feature Nice People, a horror comedy starring Ella Bleu Travolta and Sosie Bacon. He is also slated to appear in Warner Bros.’ F.A.S.T. and Netflix’s series Trinity.
His television credits include The Copenhagen Test, 61st Street, Perry Mason, City on a Hill, and Halt and Catch Fire. O’Brien is represented by UTA, The Characters Talent Agency, Lichter, Grossman, Nichols and Thruline Entertainment.
Kiely, who produced the TIFF-premiering film Mile End Kicks, is repped by Great North Artists. De Oliveira is represented by Gersh, Wright Entertainment Inc. and Myman Greenspan, while Bachelor’s representatives include Christina Bachelor, CAA, Artists First and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
Bruneau is represented by Agence Goodwin and Amanda Rosenthal Talent Agency. The project marks Kiely’s fourth theatrical feature as director.
Shooting on 16mm allows the film to channel the gritty aesthetic of classic crime dramas while examining personal choices and the passage of time through its characters’ experiences in professional hockey.
According to the production notes, the narrative centers on the fallout from one ill-fated decision that alters the lives of longtime friends and former teammates.