REVIEW: “The Front Room” (2024)

As a movie buff with over three decades of film-watching under my belt, I must confess that “The Front Room” left me feeling like a cat watching a pigeon through a window – intrigued but ultimately unsatisfied. The story, based on Susan Hill’s short tale, is a psychological horror that, in my humble opinion, could have been a riotous dark comedy if given the chance to fully explore its comedic potential.

In “The Front Room,” Brandy Norwood portrays Belinda Irwin, a multitasking character who grapples with numerous challenges. At work, she’s an anthropology professor who has grown tired of the mistreatment from her department. On a deeper level, she is dealing with the emotional aftermath of the loss of her firstborn son, Wallace. To make matters even more complex, Belinda is heavily pregnant. This heavy load leads to episodes of anxiety, fear, and doubt. However, things take a turn for the worse when her mother-in-law enters the scene.

The title ‘The Front Room’ originates from a 2016 short story by Susan Hill. This movie, however, is not just the brainchild of one, but a collaborative effort between Max and Sam Eggers, who are renowned for being the siblings of Robert Eggers, a well-known filmmaker. The Eggers brothers’ adaptation offers an intriguing blend of captivating and infuriating elements, revolving around some tantalizing concepts that ultimately fail to fully materialize.

Although “The Front Room” primarily belongs to the genre of psychological horror, it possesses elements suitable for a hilarious dark comedy. During certain scenes, I and the audience at my screening found ourselves chuckling out loud multiple times, showcasing its comedic potential at its finest. However, the horror aspect falls short in comparison. The Eggers brothers skillfully create an unsettling atmosphere, but fail to elevate their film beyond that horrifying foundation.

Belinda and her spouse, Andrew Burnap (known as Norman), reside in a fixer-upper that they’ve been struggling to complete. Andrew is a young attorney facing difficulties, hoping to land one more significant client to secure a prominent role at his law firm. Meanwhile, Belinda cherishes her job at the university but laments the dwindling opportunities due to a dean who ignores her and doesn’t respond to her calls. Both of them carry the emotional burden from their tragic loss of their first-born infant, which also affects Belinda during her current pregnancy.

In addition to his current troubles, Norman unexpectedly gets a call from his stepmother, Solange (played by Kathryn Hunter), informing him that his father has passed away due to stomach cancer. Despite this news, Norman is reluctant to attend the funeral because of the abuse he suffered as a child at her hands. He confides in Belinda that Solange claims to be spiritually empowered and her distorted religious beliefs caused trauma that Norman continues to grapple with even today.

In a bid to honor his father’s memory, Belinda persuades Norman to attend the funeral. Following the service, Solange reveals to Norman and Belinda that according to their father’s will, she is to leave them a substantial fortune. This wealth would not only cover the remaining payments on their house but also establish a comfortable life for their upcoming baby. However, there’s a condition – Solange must reside with them for the rest of her days. While it seems like a poor decision to us, Norman and Belinda decide to accommodate Solange into their home.

It doesn’t take much time for the frail and hunched Solange, who initially appears harmless, to turn into a source of trouble. She begins with petty actions such as criticizing Belinda’s cooking or claiming the nursery as her own room. Norman grows increasingly frustrated but Belinda steps in as peacemaker, trying to keep things from falling apart. However, the situation soon takes a darker turn as Solange’s true intentions gradually reveal themselves.

Actress Hunter, known for portraying peculiar characters, doesn’t disappoint here. Her sharp, gravelly tone and brash behavior are as unsettling as her character Belinda and Norman. Indeed, Hunter manages to make us feel uncomfortable just as Belinda does on screen. However, the movie relies too heavily on her performance, and her act starts to become tiresome for the audience before it does for the couple. This is further aggravated by the scarcity of major plot twists or exciting surprises. Essentially, we see Hunter repeating a similar performance throughout the film.

2024-09-09 17:56

REVIEW: “The Front Room” (2024)

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