Everything goes to hell for newly-pregnant Belinda (Brandy) 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…
We open with a powerful punch, featuring the English version of Edith Piaf’s “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” (“No Regrets”). Although I’ve only heard the original 1960 French version, famously revived in Christopher Nolan’s Inception, its usage here is highly effective. The song immediately grabbed my attention, and after a brief detour into the Edith Piaf rabbit hole, I am fully engaged.
Seeing Brandy Norwood (I Know What You Did Last Summer) again on screen is a pleasant surprise. Known simply as Brandy in her Moesha days, she now takes on a more mature role. A24’s track record with films like Hereditary, Midsommar, and Green Room gives me great confidence in their casting choices, so I’m eager to see this trailer hint at her full performance to follow.
The reveal of Kathryn Hunter as Miss Solange is a big, BIG plus! Having enjoyed her role in Poor Things, where she played one of my favorite characters (Swiney), I’m excited to see her turn the creepy grandma energy up to 11 in this film. She reminds me of the shuffling old bag(s) from It Chapter Two.
Brandy’s character Belinda has a newborn baby and is forced to live with the recently widowed Miss Solange, who appears to be a racist old coot claiming divine possession has granted her special powers. Interestingly, this trope feels familiar, as such beliefs are not uncommon where I live in North Carolina. However, in Miss Solange’s case, her powers seem real and are used destructively to break up the interracial marriage between Belinda and her husband, played by Andrew Burnap. Despite being outmatched by the supernatural powers of Miss Solange, Belinda fights back with a healthy dose of sass, making for a compelling character dynamic.
The Front Room will be in theaters September 6th, 2024
I’m looking forward to watching Brandy take on this creepy geriatric demon lady!
Are you?