The Front Room Review: Annoying Beyond Comprehension

As a horror enthusiast with over three decades of movie-watching under my belt, I’ve seen it all – from classics like The Exorcist and Psycho to more recent gems like Get Out and Us. So when A24, the studio behind some of my favorite horror flicks, announced a new film, I was eagerly anticipating another chilling masterpiece. Unfortunately, I can’t say The Front Room fits that bill.

A24 is well-known for producing top-notch horror films, such as Hereditary, Climax, and The Witch, with Robert Eggers being one of their notable directors responsible for The Lighthouse and The Northman, and he’s also working on a Nosferatu project. However, it was actually Mark and Sam Eggers who directed the movie in question, not Robert. Unfortunately, The Front Room is one of the most irritating movies I have ever watched in my lifetime.

It pains me to write any of this because, contrary to popular belief, I don’t always enjoy writing negative reviews. Filmmakers pour their blood, sweat, and tears into making movies they hope audiences will enjoy. A horror comedy movie like The Front Room is designed to be that fun, crowd-pleaser horror film that haunts and entertains you simultaneously. The tone is admirable, but I can’t recommend this movie in the slightest because it does not make you laugh, nor does it scare you. The sole effect this movie will have on you is pure irritation.

Right from the get-go, the conversation seems awkwardly contrived. The rhythm and substance of each dialogue sequence appear intentionally dulled down to minimize any significant effect. There’s neither humor nor tension; it’s all rather mundane. The movie isn’t terrible at introducing characters, but it does reveal that our main duo previously lost a child and now Brandy’s character, Belinda, is expecting again. However, following the death of her husband’s father, they are compelled to care for his mother, Solange, portrayed by Kathryn Hunter.

As a movie enthusiast, I must say that “The Front Room” delves into the satire of how challenging our mothers-in-law can be, painting a picture of a scenario that would undoubtedly be a nightmare. The film’s characters, however, hold it back from being truly enjoyable. The couple, Belinda and Norman (Andrew Burnap), lack any semblance of chemistry, leaving me puzzled as to why I should invest in their relationship. They seem less like a loving couple and more like colleagues who happen to share the same space, making the 95 minutes I spent with them feel longer than they should.

Here’s a different way to put it: Brandy’s acting isn’t remarkable, even though the script tries persistently to make us empathize with her. As for Norman, he’s not exactly exciting – he’s overburdened with work, leaving his pregnant wife to care for his mother alone, and has a complicated history with his mom. The conflict between Norman and Solange could have led to something deep and tragic, but it ultimately fell flat.

In a more relaxed and conversational style: The actress playing this character is really going all out in her performance. She appears to enjoy portraying this unpleasant old woman that no one would willingly associate with. However, the problem is she’s incredibly grating. She constantly whines and does obnoxious things. It becomes so difficult to watch and listen to her that I found myself wanting to plug my ears. Kudos to the actress for giving such a dedicated performance, but it leaves me puzzled as to why anyone would spend money on a movie ticket just to endure being irritated for an hour and a half straight.

The humor in “The Front Room” falls flat, so don’t expect to laugh. There’s nothing fear-inducing either; it’s a film devoid of suspense. The tone remains consistently monotonous throughout its duration. Regrettably, it lacks intriguing content. The film attempts to address racism through an interracial couple and their conservative mother-in-law, but it does so with the finesse of a sledgehammer, making it appear oversimplified and unrefined. Every aspect is laid bare without any subtlety or room for interpretation, leading to frustration as you cringe at the forced dialogue.

As I reached the midpoint of the movie, it suddenly struck me that it was a horror film. The setting, primarily inside this house, lacked any eerie ambiance. It seemed like a production made on a shoestring budget. An inexpensive establishing shot, which appeared to have been improperly exported, was included early in the film. The Eggers brothers are known for their creative framing, often using reflections to create illusory shots. However, this movie appears to be designed to annoy rather than entertain. The ending was disappointingly underwhelming, and instead of a satisfying resolution, it dragged on endlessly, leaving me yearning for the credits to roll.

SCORE: 1/10

As ComingSoon’s review policy explains, a score of 1 equates to “Awful.”

ComingSoon usually avoids assigning a poor rating, as it’s typically used for video games with significant issues or entertainment lacking in any commendable aspects.

2024-09-09 21:10

SCORE: 1/10

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