Review of A24’s ‘The Front Room’: A Mean-Spirited Hagsploitation Film That Falls Flat

As time passes, none of us can escape the inevitable toll that aging takes on our bodies. The gradual decline in things we once took for granted—like a full head of hair or a set of healthy teeth—becomes an unavoidable reality.

In “The Front Room,” the debut feature from Max and Sam Eggers, co-written by the brothers (with Max having co-penned “The Lighthouse” alongside their sibling Robert Eggers, known for his modern horror hits), this harshness of aging is thrust into the spotlight.

But rather than a thoughtful exploration, the film indulges in what can only be described as grotesque hagsploitation. It leans heavily on the unsettling aspects of aging, such as incontinence, with the clear intent to make them both creepy and comedic.

For those who might appreciate the dark humor in watching these physical degradations played for horror, “The Front Room” could offer a certain appeal. However, for the majority, the film’s overly mean-spirited tone and reliance on shock value fall flat.

Kathryn Hunter, an Oscar-nominated actor from “The Tragedy of Macbeth,” gives a standout performance, imbuing her role with an intense dedication that adds some gravitas to the otherwise shallow material.

Despite the impressive production design, the movie’s lack of depth and repetitive attempts to find fear or humor in aging struggles eventually make it a forgettable experience. In the end, with little more than a great performance from Hunter to recommend it, the film leaves viewers indifferent, offering more shrugs than genuine scares or laughs.