An awkward, eerie silence fills the room.

A girl stares at her roommate ­— while wearing her roommate’s clothes, jewelry, and perfume.

She smiles slowly.

“I just want to be your friend.”

In The Roommate, Leighton Meester plays Rebecca, a freshman in college with a very strange obsession with her roommate, Sara (Minka Kelly).

The two start the year out fine, but as Rebecca’s attachment to Sarah grows, so does her willingness to do anything to keep her new friend to herself.

For a horror movie, the plot of The Roommate has a lot going for it: it flows well and it’s easy to follow.

Instead of relying on scare tactics or using shock to take viewers from one scene to the next, the film introduces movie-goers to  the characters.

It lets them figure out the twists and turns for themselves.

It’s predictable without being boring, and it takes a refreshing step away from physical gore — the real horror in this film is all about the mind.

The only problem most critics and older viewers have is the striking similarity to the 1992 film Single White Female.

While The Roommate is heavily influenced by the movie, it is aimed at a different audience ­­— which means it should be judged on a different scale.

In a film with this many mind games, good acting is crucial — and the cast delivers.

Meester plays the part of a crazed friend very well. She uses subtle cues and facial expressions to portray a role that could easily be over-played.

The Roommate is a movie to watch for entertainment value. The plot is good. The acting is good. It appeals to its target audience.

Serious film or horror movie buffs may want to pass it up.

That said, viewers who just want a good movie should go see it.