The Front Room: Review
“The Front Room” starring Brandy is the kind of film that needs to be seen with an audience that will make commentary throughout in order to have the best experience.
Plot Summary
Belinda and Norman are married, and Belinda is a pregnant professor and Norman a public defender. Belinda, whose classes are generally disengaged, isn’t an adjunct, but she doesn’t have tenure, and she is having issues with her department head. So, after she decides she has had enough, she sees Solange, Norman’s estranged stepmother, offering a lot of money just to live with them until her dying day, a mixed blessing.
Yes, Norman’s dad had to die for this to come about, but paying off the mortgage and more would take the weight off Belinda’s decision, give Norman more time to move up to a more lucrative position, and all they would have to do is have this nice old woman in their house. Norman warns Belinda of who Solange is, but after thinking she has changed and seeing the possibilities, Belinda pushes for Solange, and by the end of the movie, Belinda has no issue pushing Solange down flights of stairs.
Noted Cast and Characters Of “The Front Room”
Brandy Norwood As Belinda
Belinda is an anthropology professor who is at the end of her rope with the university she works at due to the disrespect. But, she needs the money, is pregnant, and does her best to put up with it until it becomes a case of the stress potentially endangering her child.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Star: Season 2.”
Andrew Burnap As Norman
Norman is a public defender who believes he is coming close to a notable promotion. He just has to get a plea deal done to impress his supervisors.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Spain.”
Kathryn Hunter As Solange
Solange is a senior woman who has recently been widowed, has a lot of money, and has a very strained relationship with her stepson. Why? Mainly because of her religious beliefs that are so strict, so toxic in some ways, that they lead to abuse. Add in she is a daughter of the confederacy, with some prejudice language part of her lexicon, and she is a piece of work.
- The actor is also known for their role in “Tale of Tales.”
The Gist
The TLDR Recap/ Review
- Norman and Belinda just bought a new home together, and they’re struggling a bit with money.
- To make a long story short, they are relying on Norman’s check as a public defender, and it isn’t enough, so when Norman’s stepmother, Solange, offers all her money and that of Norman’s dead dad in exchange for a place to live, the deal is taken.
- Mind you, Norman has beef with Solange and doesn’t want to do it, but Belinda insists, and at first, while Solange is very religious, she rolls with it.
- However, in time, Solange became the mother-in-law from hell, despite every other sentence out of Solange’s mouth being about Jesus.
- “The Front Room” is gross. Solange spits up, pees on herself, you see her leave M E Double S messes everyone, and it’ll make it hard for some to eat while watching this movie.
- But, that’s the thing about Solange, she will get a reaction out of you and whether it is grossing you out or you getting in line with Belinda and hating this woman? This is a villain who doesn’t have to do much to get you to hate her.
- Then, when you add in Belinda’s pregnancy, how she feels post-partum, and then the responsibility of taking care of this woman who is making her life hell? The empathy you feel for Belinda is immense.
- This makes the ending for “The Front Room” so wonderful and makes you feel like a weight has been lifted from your shoulders.
Review
Our Rating: Positive (Worth Seeing)
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Highlights
One Of The Grossest Films I’ve Ever Seen
Not since seeing “Wetlands” years ago have I watched a movie that was so gross it made me disgusted to have spit in my mouth. Solange is a nasty character whose bodily fluids and functions, just remembering it makes the idea eating anything disgusting.
I would even say the scenes of Solange peeing, her excrement, or spitting were more disgusting than damn near any horror movie I saw in years, for it wasn’t far-fetched like Jigsaw’s elaborate contraptions or Beetlejuice letting his guts hang out, it was the kind of thing you could actually see and deal with depending on the cards life handed to you.
Solange
With that said, Solange is a love-to-hate type of character. She is the type who preaches their love and relationship with God all day, but they sleep with the devil and moan through the night. And what’s great about her, especially in her scenes with Belinda, is you see Solange can just as much go for the hard-hitting punches, like having Belinda clean up after her, to trying to kill her by a thousand cuts, like saying her name wrong, trying to make her feel guilty, and even manipulate Norman to the best of her abilities.
In my mind, this type of horror could give you nightmares because it probably isn’t too hard to find a Solange type, depending on where you live; because they are family and have money, you put up with them. But day by day, they chip away at your sanity to the point you’d rather go to jail and deal with what the inmates would do to you than listen to this old biddy wail and exploit your upbringing of respecting and minding your elders.
The Ending
The ending is a cathartic release, and I appreciate that there isn’t a setup for a sequel (though they could squeeze one out if this became an undeniable hit – which, box office-wise, I’m not expecting).
Perfect Movie To See With An Audience Who Talks Throughout
Belinda is written to be a Black woman, and Solange is written to be an old, daughter of the Confederacy, deeply religious White woman. The things both say and the way they clash lead to moments that, unintentionally, could be funny. I’d submit that, with the right audience—for me, a Black audience—this movie could be downright hilarious.
Sadly, the theater was damn near empty when I went, so I missed out. But, I’d submit, if I knew a theater nearby where I could expect a packed house of people who would point out Solange’s madness and clap when Belinda said something back or snapped at Norman, I would see this a second time just for that.
General Information
Film Length
1 Hour 34 Minutes
Date Released
September 5, 2024
How To Watch “The Front Room”
Where To Buy, Rent or Subscribe To Watch This:
Distributor
A24
- The distributor is also known for “Sing Sing.”
Director(s)
Max Eggers, Sam Eggers
Writer(s)
Max Eggers, Sam Eggers
Based On Work By
Susan Hill
Genre(s)
Content Rating
Content Information
- Dialog: Cursing
- Violence: Blood, Torture, Self-Harm
- Sexual Content: Nudity, Sexual Situations (Implied)
- Miscellaneous: Depiction of Corpses, Body Horror, Drinking, Drug Use, Vomiting, Smoking
- Are There Jump Scares: Yes, No
- Is There a Chance It Will Make You Cry: Yes, No
Why Is The Movie Named “The Front Room?”
Because the front room is where Solange lives and where a lot of Belinda’s suffering comes from.
Is There A Mid-Credit or Post-Credit Scene For “The Front Room?”
No
Visitor Rating: 100/100