THE FRONT ROOM (2024)

 

Written & Directed By: Max Eggers & Sam Eggers 

Based on a short story by: Susan Hill

Cinematography: Ava Berkofsky 

Editor: Eric Kissack and Benjamin Rodriguez Jr. 

Cast: Brandy Norwood, Kathryn Hunter, Neal Huff, Andrew Burnap, Mary Testa, Kerry Flanagan

It tells the story of a newly pregnant couple who are forced to take in an ailing, estranged stepmother.

I don’t know exactly the plan behind this film as the only thing it truly does successfully is make itself look like it’s going to be something more of a horror film or a supernatural film. However, it ends up becoming more psychological than expected.

The problem is that there seems to be no plan by the villain as to what this is all for or if it is even worth it. Though Kathryn Hunter playing the old woman Solange is the only truly noteworthy part of the film. Not to mention the only truly wonderful performance. One only wishes the movie matched her performance. 

For the most part, the movie is dull where the characters are stuck between a rock and a hard place and wonder why they burden themselves. Even though it’s more Brandy versus the old lady as her husband who knows how much trouble the old lady can be is at work and mainly absent.

So the move is a battle of wills between two women trying to become head of the household even though one is almost off to the pastures already. So while it may remind you of the movie HUSH with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jessica Lange or MOTHER’S BOYS with Jamie Lee Curtis only with an added hacksploitation angle.

At first thought this film would be a good guilty pleasure that you can have fun with like the movie MA with Octavia Spencer, but while there are shades at times of that type of film. This one takes itself more seriously and instead of violence. Seems to disgust the audience with feces and other body fluids. 

You also wonder don’t these people have friends or other family who could help them in any way, shape, or form? 

One understands the subversive turn in the story though it still remains with the audience asking why any of this happens. What is it all about? By the end, you might be wondering why did you just sit through all of this? Was it supposed to be a starring comeback for star Brandy even though it gives her no scenes to shine?

Grade: D+