The Front Room Review: Kathryn Hunter shines in a film that lacks depth

The psychological horror film, The Front Room is based on Susan Hill's 2016 short story of the same name. It was released in theatres in the United States on September 6, 2024.

The Front Room stars Brandy Norwood, Kathryn Hunter, Andrew Burnap, and Neal Huff. Written and directed by Max Eggers and Sam Eggers, the film was produced by Babak Anvari, Lucan Toh, David Hinojosa, and Julia Oh and distributed by A24.

If the audiences have learned anything from A24's past(consider the X franchise, Hereditary, and Midsommar), it is that the narratives and characters in their projects are always extremely layered and complex. However, with The Front Room, the production and distribution company has failed to achieve the same expected level of complexity.

Kathryn Hunter's portrayal of Solange, a wealthy and religious woman in her seventies who is often erratic, is one of the film's few redeeming qualities. She embodies the character and does not let go of it even when she is expected to do the most absurd things onscreen, including defecating and urinating on Belinda.

Disclaimer: This article contains spoilers. Please read at your discretion.

---

Kathryn Hunter's performance as Solange in The Front Room is one of its USPs

Kathryn Hunter, best known for her roles in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007) and Poor Things (2023), plays Solange, a woman in her seventies in The Front Room.

Solange is Belinda's (the title character) stepmother-in-law and has promised to leave her wealth to Belinda and her husband, Norman, who is Solange's stepson. The only condition is that they care for her in her final years. Belinda accepts the offer and is eager to pay off the house's mortgage to ease some financial burden after losing her job.

As time passes, Belinda begins to see Solange for who she truly is, as she inflicts various psychological horrors on her. Belinda is the sole black person in a predominantly white household, and Solange ensures that she is aware of this fact.

She also makes sure that Belinda understands she is under Solange's control. If she ever becomes dissatisfied with how she is treated, Solange can withdraw her promise to leave her wealth to Belinda and Norman.

---

The Front Room could have been so much more than it was allowed to be

It wouldn't be accurate to claim that The Front Room completely avoids addressing complex issues in the film. The filmmakers try to remind audiences that each character's interaction with the other is tied to their individual socio-political circumstances and experiences. This is depicted through Norman's limited interaction with his stepmother and Solange's racist comments toward Belinda.

For instance, from the time Solange takes abode, Norman maintains limited contact with her, which leaves Belinda to do everything, despite being heavily pregnant. During an alarming moment in the movie, Solange defecates on Belinda, who is covered in a significant amount of faeces and urine which she is left to clean up on her own, without any help.

This particular incident points towards the labor that women are expected to put in while dealing with their in-laws irrespective of their experiences with them. It also points towards an unequal division of labor within the household, where Belinda is expected to do all the work while her husband is not as involved.

Instances such as these were allowed to exist in a vacuum in the film and were not explored further despite them being interesting plot points. Instead, more emphasis was placed on building a film driven by shock value that will leave the audiences momentarily flabbergasted but not completely satiated after it ends.

---

The Front Room is currently in theatres across the United States.