The Front Room

There has to be a better way to introduce a campy thriller without pretending to be serious. I think from the beginning if I knew it was slapstick horror, I may have been able to digest it as it was. After too many scenes featuring feces, urine, and farting one has to wonder why a treasure such a Brandy thought this is the role to sink her teeth into. If it were a serious horror, I would understand. But for what this is, it's for some one of a C-Level of celebrity. The actress that played the stepmother was very entertaining considering the brand of story telling. The premise of the old trope of the evil stepmother seemed very promising and relatable and unfortunately a ball was dropped.

The trailer for this film is misleading. The movie is very unserious, but it knows it and it leans into it. The Front Room has a very simple plot, simple dialogue, and no gore. But what it does have in abundance is a sense of humor. Thanks to a great performance by Kathryn Hunter as the elderly mother, this movie is just downright entertaining at the end of the day. You realize about 10 minutes in that it's not going to reinvent the wheel; the writing is not going to be exceptionally clever. But in spite of all that the audience in my theater couldn't stop laughing throughout. So if you're in the mood for some dark humor and camp, it's definitely worth a look. 6.5/10.

This movie was just about grossing you out and making fun of incontinence. Nothing scary at all except for a lot of faeces. Predominantly one location movies have trouble keeping the viewer entertained and this one was a stinker. Pun intended! Brandy can find a better script to be a part of. Wouldn't mind seeing more of her on screen but c'mon folks you can do better. Tired script. No horror. Nothing even to be entertained about. So what, your mother-in-law moves in and is has old views and a bit racist. Surprise surprise. If you grew up in the 40's and 50's your viewpoint on popular topics today are not going to align.

Okay this is definitely one of A24's worst films because as much there are some aspects I appreciate, it fails to take advantage with it's concept and becomes a mess.

The Eggers Brothers crafted a somewhat interesting horror flick with some interesting concepts within its setting and strong performances from Brandy and Kathryn Hunter. Unfortunately, these positive aspects are thrown into the back due to its poorly written narrative that struggles to focus with its themes, characters that are uninteresting and annoying, and a third act that just goes nowhere.

Based on the story from Susan Hill, I'll be honest, the story felt as if it was a bit stretched out too long as it ends up making some narrative choices feel weak and creating some pacing issues. Including gross moments that feels like it wants to be mean-spirited but unlike being in a creative way, it feels forced. There are some solid camera work and presentation.

Overall, the Eggers Brothers prove that they have talents to craft something but this movie probably works better as a short film.

Elderly widow Solange (Kathryn Hunter) offers to share her wealth with her estranged stepson Norman (Andrew Burnap) and his pregnant wife Belinda (Brandy Norwood) so long as the couple agree to take her into their home. However, the old woman begins to make trouble from the moment she moves in, her controlling nature, extreme religious beliefs, bizarre behaviour and chronic incontinence putting pressure on Norman and Belinda's relationship. Does the malicious old lady have a secret agenda - a sinister reason for wanting to drive a wedge between her stepson and his wife?

Well, no, actually, and that's the big problem with The Front Room: after plenty of well-executed build up, the film fails to deliver a satisfying payoff, the ending coming as a total damp squib. The misleading trailer hinted at Solange possessing dark, supernatural powers, her reasons for wanting to live with Norman and Belinda being far from Christian; however, rather than revealing the woman to be a member of an evil cult out to possess the body of Belinda or steal the life-force of the couple's child, Solange turns out to be just an ordinary obnoxious old bag, albeit one who regularly craps the bed. Writer/directors Sam and Max Eggers attempt a twist at the end of the film, but it's extremely weak, neither clever nor surprising.

To be fair, I had a pretty good time with most of the film, largely thanks to Hunter as Solange, who is absolutely hilarious, clearly having a blast playing a cantankerous, manipulative old crone in an adult diaper. It's just a real shame that the Eggers couldn't wrap things up in a more satisfying manner.