One thing that the domination of streamers in recent years has done is put movies in front of an audience that normally wouldn’t give them the time of day. This week, it’s Max, showcasing “The Front Room”, a ridiculous, borderline supernatural, thriller that will make you uncomfortably cramp up and then have you wondering what you just watched when it’s all over.

Brandy stars as Belinda, a struggling adjunct professor, who is very pregnant with her first child with her public defender husband, Norman. When Norman’s dad passes, we meet Solange (Kathryn Hunter) the frail, but religiously stubborn stepmother, who strokes a check, and buys her way into the lives of the young family. It’s not long before Solange’s influence begins to dominate Belinda’s life and starts cracking the foundations of her sanity.

The problem here is the lack of real drama and the unintentional goofiness of the events that unfold before the viewer. It’s tough to determine exactly how directors Sam and Max Eggers want you to feel. And that’s if you even find the story worthy enough to feel anything.
There are times during the run time of the movie when you’re going to find yourself asking exactly what the heck your watching.

Yeah, this is an A24 joint, but even they can’t get a pass on this.

Our few bright spots here are Kathryn Hunter’s over the top performance. Solange waddles around on twin canes, causing chaos, and in one scene looks exactly like Gollum/Smeagol from “Lord of the Rings”. At least “The Front Room” isn’t a big commitment at 95 minutes, and it is nice to see Brandy again.

Even if it’s on a foolish endeavor such as this one.

You can watch “The Front Room” on Max now.

The Front Room:

GRADE: D-

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