The Front Room Review

REVIEW

✦

REVIEW ✦

At first glance, the recent A24 flick The Front Room might appear to be an eerie, homebound horror story — but just beneath the surface lies a sometimes-solid familial thriller that partially struggles to find its footing.

The Front Room (2024) | A24

A Claustrophobic Setting That Occasionally Hinders Itself

The Front Room, directed by Max and Sam Eggers, is a horror-comedy that attempts to blend domestic tension with surreal absurdity. The film centers around Belinda (Brandy Norwood) and her husband Norman (Andrew Burnap), who are forced to take in Norman’s estranged stepmother, Solange (Kathryn Hunter), after a series of unfortunate events. The claustrophobic setting of their home is meant to amplify the tension, but the film struggles to maintain a consistent tone. Sometimes it’s funny, sometimes it’s creepy, but it’s never really all-in regardless of its potential for follow-through.

The confined space of the house serves as a strong metaphor for the characters’ emotional entrapment — however, the film’s pacing and tone often feel muddled, making it difficult for the audience to fully engage with the story. And when these transitions between horror and comedy are introduced, they generally feel abrupt, which can be jarring and detract from the overall tonal experience.

Memorable Roles That Were Sometimes Underutilized

Hunter delivers a standout performance as the overbearing and somewhat grotesque Solange. Her portrayal is both disturbing and memorable, providing the film with one of its most compelling offerings. Hunter’s ability to embody such a complex character adds a layer of depth to the film that is otherwise lacking. Her physicality and facial expressions are particularly noteworthy, making Solange a character that is hard to forget.

Norwood and Burnap also give commendable performances as a committed couple, but their characters are not as well-developed outside of their work-stress and differing takes on Solange. Belinda and Norman’s relationship is central to the plot, yet it feels like some of their potential goes unexplored. The lack of character development (while also part of the story due to Solange’s presence) makes it challenging for the audience to invest in their story until the final act attempts to commendably revise those issues. And while the film hints at deeper issues within their marriage, these are never fully addressed, leaving viewers with more questions than answers.

Humor That Misses the Mark

The Front Room tries to balance horror with dark comedy, but the humor often falls flat. The film’s reliance on gross-out gags and scatological humor detracts from its potential to be genuinely frightening or funny past its first few moments. The absurdity of Solange’s antics, while initially amusing, becomes repetitive and predictable, leaving little room for genuine scares or laughs.

The comedic elements that follow only feel forced and out of place, disrupting the film’s flow. The script attempts to inject humor into tense situations, but the jokes often miss the mark — and it’s this inconsistency in tone that makes it difficult for the audience to know how to react.

Essentially, the film’s potential to be a clever horror-comedy is undermined by its overreliance on lowbrow humor.

Unsettlingly Immersive

Visually, The Front Room has moments of brilliance. The cinematography effectively captures the claustrophobic nature of the setting, using tight shots and dim lighting to create a sense of unease. The production design is also noteworthy, with the house itself becoming a character in the story. The decaying, cluttered environment reflects Solange’s intrusive presence and the growing tension within the household.

However, the film’s visual strengths are not enough to compensate for its narrative weaknesses. The atmosphere is effectively creepy, but without a strong story to support it, the visuals alone cannot sustain the audience’s interest.

Score: 6/10

With a glimmer of originality, an indecisive tone, and a handful of memorable moments, The Front Room is a film that doesn’t waste your time — but it’s not exactly a groundbreaking event either.