Apartment 7A (FANTASTIC) is a Serviceable Rental That Checks Enough Boxes to Warrant a Look
Title: Apartment 7A
First Non-Festival Release: Month Day, Year (Theatrical Release, Digital/Streaming Platforms, etc)
Director: Natalie Erika James
Writer: Natalie Erika James, Christian White, Skylar James
Runtime: 107 Minutes
Starring: Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Kevin McNally
Where to Watch: Check out where to find it here
This film’s review was written after its screening at the Fantastic Film Festival in 2024.
Rosemary’s Baby is a classic horror film that has influenced countless other horror films since its release in 1968. Apartment 7A dives deeper into the story that happens before it.
Terry (Julia Garner) dreams of making it as a performer in New York City after leaving her modest slaughterhouse roots of Nebraska behind her. Crippled by an unexpected injury during a production, Terry is determined to make her dreams a reality. When she inadvertently crosses paths with and befriends Minnie (Dianne Wiest) and Roman (Kevin McNally) Castevet, she is suddenly thrust into an elite circle of wealthy friends. Her dreams seem to be coming true until she begins to suspect something horrible is happening to her.
Borrowing heavily from better films, Apartment 7A is an acceptable prequel with a few thrills to spare.
It’s already a daunting feat to do a continuation of one of the greatest horror films ever made, which is what makes Apartment 7A feel so safe. From the beginning, anyone with knowledge of Rosemary’s Baby will know there are only a few ways Apartment 7A can end. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with predestination if the journey is worth it. Apartment 7A struggles to free itself from these expectations. Following a pattern of similar story beats, this iteration’s stand-in for Rosemary has no interest in motherhood before being thrust into it unexpectedly. From there, it feels predictable but that never stops the film from engaging with its commentary or the grime underneath the New York shine.
Terry makes for a relatable, if flat, character who struggles to gain direction and agency in a world conspired to use her. Motivated by her humble Nebraskan pig-farming roots, Terry is determined to make a name for herself. When life suddenly gets easier thanks to the Castevet family, Terry is grateful before slowly getting suspicious at the boundless kindness they have for her. Throughout her journey in uncovering the fraught past of the apartment complex, Terry only ever grows in her suspicion. Much of her character comes down to her moral quandary of what certain success in the entertainment industry means for her soul. Her reckoning is silent, but it is clear that her moral compass drives her farther than her ambition, leading into the film’s pro-choice sentiments nicely.
It’s no secret that in a post Roe v. Wade world that women’s bodily autonomy is in danger in the United States. Rosemary’s Baby was released in 1968, several years before the landmark Supreme Court decision was upheld by the Court, meaning abortion was still illegal but still very much prevalent in the country. With Terry’s main dilemma circling around her unexpected and dubious pregnancy, Apartment 7A is a direct response to the 2022 Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case which overruled Roe v. Wade.
Treated with initial support, it becomes clear to Terry that the luxuries she enjoys are entirely conditional on her willingness to carry the Antichrist’s life to term. Not having the full context of the reality behind her pregnancy and living in a time where abortion is hostile, Terry finds her choices limited, leading to her taking drastic action to terminate the pregnancy and save her soul. It doesn’t matter that such a fantastical element is involved in the story when real women suffer the consequence of anti-choice laws which can lead to social ostracization, poverty, disability, and even death. Apartment 7A is not shy about its stance on women’s right to choose.
Brilliant visuals bring the glamor and terror of New York City’s entertainment industry alive. Dazzling dance sequences and larger-than-life visuals mirror what life in show business has to offer in all the best and worst ways. The fast-paced energy of the city comes to life in Garner’s performance, especially near the end in a final act of defiant acceptance, leading to one of the most memorable visuals of the film. Of course, Garner’s impact throughout the film can be found in Terry’s multi-take audition sequence where she is humiliated in front of casting directors while landing on her bad leg repeatedly. The even more sinister underbelly of the operation comes to life when Terry vividly imagines her world morphing into a satanic dance number when visiting a casting director’s apartment. Apartment 7A may not re-invent the wheel, but it does add visual depth to its tried-and-true premise.
Overall, Natalie Erika James’s Apartment 7A is a capable film that is overshadowed by the legendary status of its source material. The unshakeable inevitability of its direction, thanks to the forgone conclusion, makes it hard to feel a sense of tension or mystery. Still, Garner’s steady performance and the exciting show business spin on the tale keep Apartment 7A energetic and entertaining. Making a deal with the Devil might be a difficult decision, but watching Apartment 7A on Paramount Plus doesn’t have to be.
Overall Score? 6/10
