'Apartment 7A' Review: 'Rosemary's Baby' prequel is less chilling than Hell itself
NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Roman Polanski's 'Rosemary's Baby' is one of the greatest horror films of all time. The success of the 1968 film made way for its sequel in 1976 and close to five decades later, we have a prequel. 'Apartment 7A' is set in 1965, giving us a glimpse of what happened at Bramford before Rosemary and Guy rented an apartment in the infamous building.
'Apartment 7A' sails in the known territory- A young woman surrounded by over-friendly neighbors, she soon starts to lose control over her body. The entire premise is familiar to those who have watched 'Rosemary's Baby’ and the only appeal of the prequel lies in the nostalgia and legacy of that original masterpiece.
The cast of 'Apartment 7A' has some big shoes to fill
In 'Apartment 7A', Julia Garner plays Terry Gionoffrio, replacing Angela Dorian who had a brief appearance in 'Rosemary's Baby'. The film opens by introducing Terry and her dream of becoming a Broadway star. However, her aspirations are crushed when she sustains a leg injury during a performance. This not only jeopardizes her career but also leaves her emotionally fragile. An elderly couple kindly offers her a rent-free apartment in their building, but anyone familiar with 'Rosemary's Baby' will have a good idea of what's coming next.
Julia Garner is no stranger to tough roles, having won three Emmys for 'Ozark'. She delivers what's required from her character, be it expressing moments of desperation to chase her dream, or, living the horrors of the building. The prequel falters to deliver more than a bite of nostalgia but Garner isn't to be blamed.
Dianne Wiest and Kevin McNally step into the shoes of Minnie and Roman Castavet, the Satan-worshipping couple. Wiest is convincing in her role but it's hard to beat Ruth Gordon's Oscar-winning performance in 'Rosemary's Baby'.
'Apartment 7A' thrives on legacy but lacks new thrills
The problem with 'Apartment 7A' is that it doesn't offer any moments of surprise or thrills to those who have watched the original. Natalie Erika James's direction is top-notch as she recreates the New York of the 1960s, but the film feels more like a rehash than a fresh take. Not only it lacks suspense but the scares also don't leave an impression. The only scene that leaves an impact is where Terry is humiliated during the audition.
Even those unfamiliar with the franchise may feel disappointed with the pacing of this prequel. The first half establishes Terry’s life and ambitions before she slowly realizes that something is very wrong with the Castevets. Despite multiple opportunities, the tension never builds to the level it should. Even the climax fails to generate any chills.
Sadly, 'Apartment 7A' feels like a forced prequel that doesn't contribute anything to the franchise. Fans of 'Rosemary's Baby' can watch it for nostalgia but don't expect anything more.
'Apartment 7A' is available to stream on Paramount+.
