A new horror movie is on its way to the big screen that has some potential on the psychological horror aspect but there are certain things that make the doubt it. Max and Sam Eggers are the directors and scriptwriters of this movie, which is to be a psychological thriller with plot that sounds and looks like cliche but at the same time I dont remember watching a horror movie where the stepmother was such an evil person and one of the main characters, I'm sure there are but probably very few with a score over 8. It is a film about a young couple who are expecting a baby but they have to move in with the husband’s stepmother which right from the start is not the most peaceful person. The film is also kinda of short with only 94 minutes long so audiences I would expect a fast moving story that wastes little time getting to the point and creating tension, has to be an in your face type of scenario that can work on its favor since the topic is not too complicated. There is fresh blood in the cast with actors as Brandy Norwood, Kathryn Hunter and Andrew Burnap, as well as seasoned actors, which may point to the performances that could lift the movie above the standard in the horror genre. This is the latest from A24, the production company that has brought us a couple of great horror movies like Talk to Me (2023), Pearl (2022) just to mention a few recent ones that are quite engaging and thought provoking in terms of themes, aesthetics and social commentary, all of which has set quite high expectations for a movie that is potentially heavy on all of these aspects while exploring other themes of family, duty and the oppressive nature of familial bonds.
- IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21905744/
- Platform: Theaters
- Release: September 6, 2024
Behind the Scenes
The Eggers Brothers' Vision
Max and Sam Eggers are coming out from behind the camera with their debut feature film as directors, they also wrote the script, most of the time this would be an advantage for the production of the film. Despite this being their first time directing the Eggers name is not unfamiliar to the world of cinema, this is because their half brother is Robert Egger, the director of films such as "The Witch" and "The Lighthouse", I'm not sure how close they are but the horror genre might be a familiar one for them, as he has already established himself as a writer, he co wrote "The Lighthouse” screenplay together with Robert. This experience probably served him right. It will be a key moment in their career to watch the two brothers bring their experience in folklore, mythology and history into a contemporary horror. A style associated with complex and intricate plotting and with an ability to look at the less moral side of human nature.The shooting of the series occurred in August and September 2022, and most of the scenes were shot in New Jersey, most of the shooting happen in a house in Boonton, an office building in Parsippany Troy Hills and Fairleigh Dickinson University in Florham Park, with this choice of locations seems to indicate a wish to anchor the the series more into the real world, although this locations would probably only appeal or familiar to those from New Jersey. The chosen location were also influence by the music composer Marcelo Zarvos whose input will also lift the suspense and tension within the film and the kind of psychological horror that the story offers. The film enter post production in February 2023 and quickly start to buzz as probably one of the best horror movies of the year, bit big of a tittle but time will tell.
Cast and Characters
The lead character of Belinda is played by Brandy Norwood who has previously been in the horror genre in I Still Know What You Did Last Summer, other than music, Brandy has also done acting in Moesha 90’s sitcom and mostly TV Series. When I saw her during the trailer her character gave me this vibe of a very active women although I didn't like her description of the film during a A24 video on the A24 YouTube channel, it was too flat and felt a bit plane, "this movie is crazy" that was it?
Kathryn Hunter has received wide recognition for her previous roles in multiple well known productions, especially in Shakespeare parts; she will be part of the cast. All three witches in Joel Coen’s "The Tragedy of Macbeth" are a recent example of her skills in delivering an enjoyable and memorable performances which makes her casting rather the perfect fit for the role, a very very uncomfortable character to watch on The Front Room.
The youngest of the main cast is Andrew Burnap, who has mostly display his talent in Broadway for which he has received awards, the fact that he has won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a role for "The Inheritance" shows his dramatic skill that he will definitely take to this psychological horror film.
Another member of the cast is Neal Huff, who for some reason I remember from such successful and well received films as "Spotlight" and "Mare of Easttown", I don't remember seen him on the trailer so I'm not sure how he will impact the story, he plays the role of a Pastor, with the presence of Huff adds another seasoned actor in the interpretation of this horror family conflict film.
Plot and Themes
Some of the story’s details are still vague to the audience, the concept is not complicated there for has to be more to it than what the trailer shows, but the basic story line is about a couple who has just become pregnant and is now burdened with the responsibility of looking after a sick and a bitter stepmother, making things very complicated to handle and basically its all because of money.It seems that the film will be focused on such themes as family relations, generational conflict and the problem of care, because towards the end I'm sure someone going to say fuck this I'm sick of it and just leave. It may explore how family care responsibilities interfere with each individual choices and well being in society. Pregnancy is an aspect of the story that could be used to tackle issues of motherhood and the expectation of women’s bodies, certainty Solange character have a lot to say about the what pregnancy is handle by Belinda.
Based on the trailer the film might even expose racial family issues, the film can discuss the subject of interracial relationships or the difficulties of black women in white families, I hope it just keep it to one scene and does not become the on going topic for the film. I personally looking into any type of supernatural or psychological aspects of the movie since it would explain a lot of why this old women just want to hurt them out of nothing.
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