Fri. September 6, 2024
By Jerry Nunn
Performer Brandy Norwood has had a long, productive career over the years in music, movies and television. It's easy to see why she would pick The Front Room as a project after doing well in the horror genre for her big-screen debut in the 1998 slasher I Still Know What You Did Last Summer.
In this new A24 film, Brandy plays Belinda, a teacher who is ready to bust from a bun in the oven thanks to hubby Norman, a blossoming lawyer on the verge of success. Everything is coming up roses for the couple as they settle into their house and set up a special spot for their bundle of joy on the ground level.
Tragedy strikes suddenly as Solange, the step monster who married into Norm's family previously, is suddenly widowed and needs home care as Belinders mother-in-law now.
Before the baby can sing “That bedroom is mine” ol' Solange has taken the space over to become a squatter on the property. While a sing-off between Solange Knowles and Brandy could have been a showstopper, this Solange brings other challenges to the table.
Known for her varied work involving Shakespeare, Kathryn Hunter plays Solange as a raspy-voiced curmudgeon with a sassy southern accent. Her namesake refers to being sacred and contains religious references rooted in Latin origins. In person she's a mix of Kane from Poltergeist II: The Other Side and Regan MacNeil from The Exorcist. The part comes with projectile vomiting, speaking in tongues and harsh judgments.
Based on a short story by Dame Susan Hill, brothers Max and Sam Eggers adapted the material to make it full length and the running time of 94 minutes keeps the film right on track.
The storyline eventually unravels and the script does Brandy a disservice by betraying what her character is built up to be. There's a plot point where the smart historian Belinda squares off against a very racist Solange but it's quickly dropped after going nowhere, unfortunately. It shows The Front Room could have been had it not been barricaded by antique tropes.
This film is the first feature from the Eggers Brothers as directors and they need more time to grow into a picture such as this one. The duo has learned some tricks from their talented brother Robert, but The Front Room lacks enough treats to sustain it. Instead, they spend too much time in the sandbox playing with shadowy cinematography and spinning an eery soundtrack.
After creating a chaotic atmosphere in the home, Solange needed stronger development to become a fully realized character including a fleshed-out backstory, warts and all.
This nursery could use some renovations and close for construction in the meantime.
The competition for spooky flicks in 2024 is fierce and there's no time for Brandy to sit up in her room while being down. Glenn Close as Alberta in The Deliverance is the momma stealing the show these days, so Hunter better watch her back in The Front Room.
Cozy up for The Front Room in comfy cinematic spots like the Alamo Drafthouse, 3519 North Clark Street. Visit drafthouse.com for seat-specific tickets and chicken tenders today!
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