Originally published back in 1967, Ira Levin’s Rosemary’s Baby would go on to become the best-selling Horror novel of the decade. In fact, it was so popular, that you could argue it paved the way for Horror Novelists such as Stephen King; who debuted a little less than a decade later with 1974’s Carrie.
Truly a seminal piece of literature, Rosemary’s Baby was a terrifying look at the occult, topical glaze into societal changes and women’s liberation, but also exceptionally well-written. Something that should be on all reading lists, amazingly Rosemary’s Baby made the jump to the silver screen rapidly with the release of the motion picture adaptation in 1968. A film that is considered an all-time classic, to this day, there is still an interest in the core subject matter of Rosemary’s Baby.
A title easily recognized by people from all walks of life, the Rosemary’s Baby universe has been expanded upon several times; first with the seldom-seen 1976 made-for-television film Look What’s Happened to Rosemary’s Baby, before 2014’s modernly set Rosemary’s Baby two-part miniseries. Now in 2024, a new entry is being offered to curious fans called Apartment 7A.
Utilizing characters and plotlines straight out of Levin’s original book, Skylar James crafted a story set prior to the events of Rosemary’s Baby, thus making Apartment 7A a prequel. As a result, the film takes place in 1965 at the infamous New York City apartment building known as the Bramford. With this in mind, taking on direction, as well as co-writing the script, is Natalie Erika James; a promising up-and-coming filmmaker who won several awards for the 2020 film Relic. Joining them are a cast consisting of talented actors/actresses; including the likes of Julia Garner (Ozark series, Inventing Anna series), Dianne Wiest (The Lost Boys 1987, Edward Scissorhands 1990), and Kevin McNally (Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, The Wingfeather Saga series). So, the larger question remains – what is Apartment 7A about and does it offer anything new?
Set for release through Paramount+ on September 27, 2024, Apartment 7A follows Terry Gionoffrio (played by Julia Garner) who is a young, down-on-her-luck dancer. A character indeed a part of the original Rosemary’s Baby, if you have read the novel or seen the film, you already know her fate. Anyway, in Apartment 7A we are drawn into what led Terry to move into the Bramford with the awkwardly kind Minnie (Dianne West) and Roman Castevet (Kevin McNally). A tale that involves insecurity, manipulation, and sacrificing better judgment for the hopes of finding success, Terry’s situation goes from bad to much worse.
The gist of it all, the story of Apartment 7A feels vaguely similar to what Rosemary Woodhouse (portrayed in the original film by Mia Farrow) experienced in the original. With that stated, you could argue that no new ground is uncovered here; because in many ways it feels like a modernly made film, set back in time, all with a rehashed storyline. Granted the direction is quite good, the acting is exceptional (especially with the performances from Julia Garner and Dianne Wiest), and the settings look quite authentic, but something still feels missing with Apartment 7A.
Perhaps just a case of having one visual ascetic in mind, and feeling Apartment 7A is ultra glossy and modern, it is really up to audiences to decide how they feel about it. With a story almost mirroring the original, with just some elements altered, it is still compelling to learn where Terry Gionoffrio came from. With this, you find a connection in Julia Garner’s portrayal of the character, and that should be applauded.
Overall, there is nothing inherently bad about Apartment 7A, but as stated, it seems to lack a certain soul. Nonetheless, it is worth watching if you are a fan of the original novel or film; because it ties pieces together nicely. Even giving you a little peak at what is to come with Rosemary Woodhouse (who makes a brief appearance, so look out for it), Cryptic Rock gives Apartment 7A 3.5 out of 5 stars.
){kind=link}
No comment