(Updated 07/17/2024)
The home invasion movie is a venerable go-to for filmmakers who want to terrify audiences, and THE FRONT ROOM seems to add liberal dashes of family conflict and religious fervor, in the vein of ROSEMARY'S BABY, to the mix.
THE FRONT ROOM comes from A24, which has already brought us unsettling movies like MAXXXINE and I SAW THE TV GLOW this year.
What's The Front Room's Release Date?
A24 will release THE FRONT ROOM in movie theaters on September 6, 2024.
Watch the First Trailer for The Front Room
This trailer does a great job of building suspense and a gnawing sense of horror about what might be going on with the old woman Solange. In fact, that first image of Solange is incredibly freaky — her halting walk forward on two canes, draped in a shawl of mourning, is utterly freaky. We've never seen something like that exactly, and it draws us into the trailer immediately.
What Is Happening to the Baby in The Front Room?
This is why we mentioned ROSEMARY'S BABY! It seems like the child carried by Brandy's character is the real focus of Solange's attention, but we do not know why. All we've got is the official synopsis, which says that "everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy Norwood) after her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) moves in. As the diabolical guest tries to get her claws on the child, Belinda must draw the line somewhere…"
Who's in the Cast of The Front Room?
Brandy Norwood, who you probably know better as the singer Brandy, stars as Belinda, the pregnant woman who opens her home to her domineering and potentially insane mother-in-law. This movie marks Brandy's return to horror; her first big-screen role was in the '90s slasher sequel I STILL KNOW WHAT YOU DID LAST SUMMER.
Kathryn Hunter (POOR THINGS, "Andor," the Harry Potter movies) co-stars as Solange, the aforementioned old woman. Andrew Burnap plays Belinda's seemingly hapless husband, the death of whose father opens the door for Solange to ruin his family life — which he seems to see coming.
Who Made The Front Room?
THE FRONT ROOM is written and directed by The Eggers Brothers, and if that name sounds familiar, there's a good reason. Co-directors (and twins) Max and Sam Eggers, who wrote the movie based on a story by classic gothic horror author Susan Hill, have an older filmmaking brother who has been around for a while. That would be Robert Eggers, who made THE WITCH, THE LIGHTHOUSE (co-written by Max Eggers) and this winter's upcoming NOSFERATU.
As directors, this is the first movie for Max Eggers and Sam Eggers, but they've worked behind the scenes on their brother's films, and have contributed to other projects as well. Fun fact: As kids, Max and Sam appeared in Robert's very first production of "Nosferatu," a high school stage production in which the twins played gargoyles.
THE FRONT ROOM opens on September 6.
All images courtesy of A24.