The Front Room – Review | Max (3/5)

THE FRONT ROOM on Max is a Psychological Horror Movie written and directed by the Eggers Brothers. Yes, as in Robert Eggers (Nosferatu), and while their style is very different, I really enjoyed it. Read our full The Front Room movie review here!

THE FRONT ROOM is a Psychological Horror Movie out on Max now. Despite the rather low IMDb rating (4.6 as of writing this review), I highly recommend checking it out. This is a horror movie that uses all the right triggers for me.

Brandy stars alongside Kathryn Hunter in what can only be described as religion meets psychological warfare and a test of both patience and sanity. The runtime is just 94 minutes, and it doesn’t feel slow at all, even though it gets so nasty that you may want it to end.

Continue reading our The Front Room movie review below. Find it on Max now.

How much can one person endure?

In The Front Room, we meet the very pregnant Belinda (Brandy) who isn’t loving her job as an adjunct at a college but isn’t quite ready to become a mom either. We’ll come to learn that a tragedy is the reason for her uneasiness related to giving birth.

Things go from bad to worse, when the house isn’t quite ready either and she quits her job. That’s when her mother-in-law (Kathryn Hunter) offers to solve their money problems if she can move in. Having just become a widow, she is in poor health and just wants to feel safe.

Well, that’s the official and kind-hearted sob story told by the very religious and charming woman, who talks with a fabulous Southern drawl. As this—it turns out quickly—diabolical guest tries to take over their home and family, Belinda knows she must draw the line.

When mother-in-law Solange tries to get a little too close for comfort with the newborn, the line has been crossed. But is it too late for Belinda (or “Belind-er” as Solange insists on calling her) to do anything?!

Brandy and Kathryn Hunter are amazing

Every single scene with Brandy Norwood and Kathryn Hunter just sings with crazy energy. From when Solange (Kathryn Hunter) still seems relatively benign to when it’s obvious that she has no inhibitions whatsoever.

I have not been able to get the phrase “M-E-Double-S” out of my mind since watching The Front Room. And you shouldn’t expect to either. Good Lord, this woman is truly diabolical. All while also possibly having divine powers of healing.

It’s very wild, and probably the reason why some people have given it 1-star ratings on IMDb. However, this is not a critique of religion. Instead, it’s very much about an elderly woman who manipulates and has no qualms about it or limits for how far she will go.

I know Brandy mostly as a singer or from her own sitcom while Kathryn Hunter was most recently brilliant in the Netflix series Black Doves. In The Front Room, these two go toe-to-toe and both hold their own brilliantly. I loved it!

Oh, and the husband of Belinda (Brandy) and stepson of Solange (Kathryn Hunter) is Norman. He is portrayed wonderfully by Andrew Burnap (Under the Banner of Heaven) but this really isn’t his story.

It’s his childhood trauma coming to haunt his child now, but he’s always on the sideline.

Also, he is constantly called “Norman Gene” as Solange insists on always calling him by this full name. All I can hear is “Norma Jean” (as in Marilyn Monroe’s real name) so it’s like she’s calling him a girl constantly. And, knowing Solange, that’s the point.

Watch The Front Room on Max now!

The Front Room is written and directed by the Eggers Brothers – Max Eggers and Sam Eggers – but based on the short story by Susan Hill, who also wrote The Woman in Black. A short story I need to seek out and read ASAP, I might add.

And yes, the Eggers Brothers do have the exact same last name as their brother, Robert. As in Robert Eggers who has given us The VVitch, The Lighthouse, and most recently Nosferatu. All three Eggers brothers have worked together in some capacity already.

They share a last name, but Max and Sam have gone in a completely different direction with their filmmaking. As much as I love Robert Eggers (we just gave Nosferatu a top rating), I also really enjoyed the Eggers Brothers’ approach to filmmaking.

It’s much more of a classic horror movie, but like Robert Eggers, Max and Sam do not shy away from difficult characters or plot developments. It’s quite messy (as in “M-E-Double-S”) and will surely make many viewers gag while watching The Front Room.

Still, the psychological horror aspect and the vicious mind games are what bring it all together. If you’re in the mood for something wild and wacky, but also quite satisfying (ultimately!), be sure to check out The Front Room on Max.

The Front Room is streaming on Max from January 3, 2025.

Details

Writers & Directors: Max Eggers & Sam Eggers
Cast: Brandy, Andrew Burnap, Kathryn Hunter, Neal Huff