If you've seen the latest from A24, The Front Room, then you know it's truly full of sh**. Literally.
The Front Room, written and directed by Sam and Max Eggers, is about Belinda (Brandy Norwood) whose mother in law (Katheryn Hunter) moves into her home so she can live out her last days with her family. But this is one mother in law that is hellbent on being the only mother of the house.
The film opens like classic horror films with music and a montage of images while the opening credits roll. Belinda and Norman (Andrew Burnap) are preparing for a new baby, while dealing with the loss of a previous stillbirth. Belinda, seemingly still traumatized by the loss, is experiencing sleep walking and nightmares. After the death of Norman's father, his stepmother, Solange, comes to live with them, causing more stress and strain on the young couple.
Photo Credit: A24
Katheryn Hunter delivers a purely comedic performance as Solange. She's uncouth, racist, religious, and has no control of her bodily functions. There is about ten minutes of the runtime where Belinda is cleaning Solange's sh**. And as you'd guess, Norman is a shell of a man when Solange is around. We learn early on that Solange was abusive towards Norman when he was child and she uses that to play Norman against Belinda; which he just lets happen. So at the end of the film when we learn how Belinda took matters into her own hands, you can't help but understand her motivation.
In the film, Belinda and Solange are in a battle mother to mother over the new baby and, at some point, Norman (you'll understand this if you've seen it).
So where's the horror? We have the same question. Just when you think there could be some horror elements lurking underneath the odd things that Solange spews about the Holy Spirit and what she may be hiding about her true self, we're met with a straightforward tale as old as time. Except for all the sh**, of course.
Photo Credit: A24
The Front Room is a horror film devoid of any horror and the comedy, while entertaining, struggles to make a lasting impression. Some of the scenes are visually stunning. Then the one that follows it is hollow leaving us with a film that doesn't feel consistent but more like a choppy storyboarded short film that was stretched into a feature.
While it was entertaining during its runtime, the film falls short of delivering a narrative that resonates with audiences and lacks the substance that would make it a lasting entry in the horror genre.
⭐⭐ out of 5
1 comment
This review is such a kii !!!! I hate that the movie turned out to be a dud smh WE WERE ROOTING FOR YOU (Tyra Banks voice) smh