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2 weeks ago
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A24’s horror-tinged dark comedy The Front Room starts rather unconventionally, with its star Brandy delivering a message to audiences asking them to disregard typical theater etiquette and “get loud.” It’s an interesting move — not just because it will disillusion A24’s core audience of cinephiles but also because it attempts to force a level of B-movie camp. Although it has its moments, The Front Room is ultimately a vapid exercise in genre filmmaking.
The Front Room Review
The film follows a young interracial couple whose idyllic relationship is thrown askew when one of their racist stepmothers moves in and tries to take over their lives, creating an uncomfortably twisted power dynamic. From the point the film begins, it’s clear where the story is heading. However, a predictable ending can be forgiven if the journey is worth the ride. Unfortunately, The Front Room does not deliver in that regard.
There are certainly some wickedly funny moments in The Front Room, but its scatological humor becomes extremely repetitive and monotonous after a while. Frankly, there are only so many times you can see an old lady be incontinent and laugh at it before it starts to feel mean-spirited. Although the character certainly isn’t likable, it still feels like the lowest common denominator of black comedy.
There is also the fact that the rest of the characters in the film, beyond those two leads, feel incredibly underdeveloped. All the effort in the character arcs was put into the relationship between the protagonist and her mother-in-law. The protagonist’s husband, for example, barely feels like a presence in the story, even though he should be a central facet of the conflict.
Another obvious issue with the film is how incredibly insincere its themes feel. Frankly, it’s hard to take a lecture about motherhood and racism with a straight face when it comes from two white guys. The dialogue is incredibly expositional, with characters frequently voicing exactly what they feel in an almost humorously direct way. Although it’s clear that the Eggers Brothers aren’t exactly aiming for subtlety, it quickly becomes apparent that this is little more than a generic version of the “mommy issues” themes frequented in the genre since the breakout of Ari Aster onto the scene.
The main reason to see The Front Room is actress Kathryn Hunter (The Tragedy of Macbeth), whose performance is over-the-top and wacky. Hunter understands the assignment, bringing zany B-movie energy to her exaggeratedly sinister role. It’s the type of scene-stealing supporting role that lets a “respectable” actress do something fun and wild for a change, and it’s worthy of merit in that sense.
Brandy’s performance in the lead role is also pretty fun, although she shows much less range than Hunter. She thrives the most when she is reacting to the crazy antics of her mother-in-law, as these parts allow her to exhibit an enjoyable sassiness. If anything, The Front Room proves that Brandy needs to get an actual scream queen role in the future.
From an aesthetic standpoint, it’s clear that the Eggers Brothers are trying to capture a throwback vibe, starting with the opening credits, which have a very distinctly retro visual style. Yet, their debut lacks the distinctive approach that would have made it an effective homage. The result is a film that feels purposefully faded and muted from an aesthetic standpoint without building to anything substantial.
Is The Front Room worth watching?
The Front Room has some solid moments, but it’s not a particularly promising debut for the Eggers Brothers. Kathryn Hunter’s performance is worth the price of admission alone, but it’s disappointing to see her be the only genuinely great part in an otherwise tedious dark comedy.
The Front Room hits theaters on September 6.
5/10
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Bengali (BD) · 
English (US) ·