The Front Room is a gross-out ‘mother-in-law from hell’ flick based on a short story from Susan Hill.
It’s directed by the Eggers brothers, Max and Sam Eggers, siblings of Robert, known for The Witch, The Lighthouse, and The Northman. Whilst this film also has a ‘The’, sadly, the comparisons end there. Their feature film debut lacks the atmosphere and tension of their brother’s films, but it does have its moments.
We’re introduced to pregnant professor Belinda (Brandy Norwood; there’s a blast from the past), who isn’t getting the respect she deserves at work, so she hastily quits. Her husband Norman (Andrew Burnap)’s father suddenly dies, and he is forced to confront his Christian fundamentalist stepmother Solange (an unrecognisable Kathryn Hunter).
She offers to leave everything to them in exchange for letting her move in ‘to be with family’. Financially hard up, Belinda accepts despite Norman’s reservations. His hesitance becomes obvious as strange things start happening around the house alongside Solange’s aggressive and unpredictable behaviour. Expect scenes to make you go ‘eeeew, brother, eeeew’.
The film takes its time to get going, and you wait for something to build up. Unfortunately, it does not quite reach its potential, and the ending is somewhat anti-climatic and unsatisfying. Expected twists never quite materialise, and decent turns from Brandy and Hunter can’t quite save a forgettable horror. Still, it might make you appreciate your mother-in-law.
