Secret Mall Apartment is an American documentary film directed by filmmaker Jeremy Workman that recounts the story of a group of young Rhode Islanders who built a secret apartment inside the bustling Providence Place shopping mall in Providence, Rhode Island in 2003, living there for four years until getting caught and charged with trespassing in 2007.[1][2][3] The story had been urban legend for many years[4] and the documentary brought together the original 8 participants for the first time in 17 years.[5]
Secret Mall Apartment had its world premiere at the SXSW Film Festival on March 8, 2024[6] where its popularity earned it the festival's first added "Buzz Screening".[7] It was cited in several high-profile publications as one of the stand-out documentaries of SXSW[8][9] and subsequently as one of "the best documentaries of 2024."[10][11]
Secret Mall Apartment marks the second collaboration between Workman and actor Jesse Eisenberg, who serves as one of the film's producers.[6][12] Previously, Eisenberg produced Workman's 2018 documentary The World Before Your Feet.
Secret Mall Apartment has been widely praised upon its release. It has a 100% positive rating on Rotten Tomatoes, based on 18 reviews.[22]
Brian Farvour of The Playlist stated that "art and rebellion collide in this unique time capsule.".[23] Coleman Spilde of The Daily Beast stated that "director Jeremy Workman sews together a larger narrative that, at times, becomes unexpectedly moving." Brian Tallerico of RogerEbert.com stated that "the Secret Mall Apartment led to the kind of environment where creatives inspire other creatives to be their best selves".[24] Alex Hudson of Exclaim! stated that "'Secret Mall Apartment' turns a childlike fantasy into a commentary on capitalism."[25] Michael Nordine of Variety gave the film a mixed positive review, writing that the film "is a thoughtful celebration of the DIY artistry behind that experiment, but only a so-so investigation of it."[26]
For Point of View, Susan G. Cole wrote that "If this was act of resistance, wouldn’t it have been useful for the forces you’re fighting to know what you were doing? Who benefits, actually? And if nobody can see this clever installation, is it art? Like any fascinating meditation on the meaning of art and its potential as a political force, Workman’s doc asks more questions than it answers, which is a very good thing."[27]