Movies

Julia Garner’s horror prequel debuts with poor Rotten Tomatoes rating

BBG News

As a fan who has seen my fair share of horror prequels, I must say that I approached “Apartment 7a” with a mix of anticipation and trepidation. Having been left spellbound by the original “Rosemary’s Baby,” I was eager to delve into its origins, but also wary of the potential pitfalls that come with revisiting such a hallowed ground.

The prequel to “Rosemary’s Baby,” titled “Apartment 7A,” has received a relatively low rating on Rotten Tomatoes after its debut at the Fantastic Fest.

The film by writer-director Natalie Erika James (Relic) provides insights into the events that unfolded at the Bramford apartment complex in New York City prior to Mia Farrow’s character, Rosemary Woodhouse, moving in, serving as a prequel to the 1968 classic.

1965 serves as the backdrop for the latest film, where Julia Garner from Ozark takes on the role of Terry Gionoffrio, an aspiring dancer whose dream is dashed following a foot injury. In her time of need, she finds help from the influential couple Minnie (played by Dianne Wiest) and Roman Castevet (Kevin McNally). Moving into their home, Terry begins to observe strange, potentially demonic happenings.

Alongside Jim Sturgess, who was famously seen in ‘Across the Universe’, we have Marli Siu, Andrew Buchan, Rosy McEwen, and Kobna Holdbrook-Smith taking on key roles as part of the supporting ensemble.

Presently, Apartment 7a is rated at 43% by film critics on Rotten Tomatoes. As additional reviews come in upon its release on Paramount+ and Video On Demand (VOD) on September 27, this score may change.

Some viewers lauded Garner’s dedicated portrayal and acknowledged that the movie effectively builds upon the narrative of “Rosemary’s Baby,” but others felt it struggled to deviate from the original to create something genuinely captivating and innovative. Here are additional insights on “Apartment 7a”:

CBR

‘Apartment 7A cannot step out of the shadow of Rosemary’s Baby.’

Screen Rant

Although it occasionally shines, the prequel to ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, titled ‘Apartment 7A’, often falls short of its goals and unfortunately misses the mark.

Slashfilm

Almost everywhere you look in this place feels dull and devoid of life, making it seem more like a tedious task to keep watching the apartment in unit 7A.

THN

In summary, ‘Apartment 7A’ serves as an excellent addition to the storyline of ‘Rosemary’s Baby’, showcasing outstanding and committed acting.

ComicBook.com

This movie offers a fresh perspective or something unique, but there are moments where it seems overly devoted to preserving the sanctity of the initial film.

Collider

‘Apartment 7A follows the identical path as its over half a century old original, never veering off course in the slightest.’ or

Slant Magazine

‘The film doesn’t fully realize its potential except for a brief 10-minute segment. Regrettably, this segment is directly preceded by the closing credits.’

On Friday, September 27 in the U.S., you’ll be able to stream Apartment 7A on Paramount+, and UK viewers can start streaming it from September 28.

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2024-09-23 19:18

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