Apartment 7A - The scoop and digest

Natalie Erika James directs and co-writes the prequel to Rosemary's Baby with Christian White and Skylar James.

Julia Garner - Terry Gionoffrio

Dianne Wiest - Minnie Castevet

Kevin McNally - Roman Castevet

Jim Sturgess - Alan Marchand

Marli Sui - Annie

Tina Gray - Lily Gardenia

Summary

New York City, 1965.

Aspiring dancer Theresa "Terry" Gionoffrio breaks her ankle when a jeté goes wrong.

Four months later, she auditions for Broadway musical The Pale Crook and arranges to meet promoter Alan Marchand at the Bramford apartment building, but collapses on the sidewalk due to pill abuse.

Rich married couple Minnie and Roman Castevet (who live at 7A) let her stay rent free in 7G.

Over time, Terry gets conveniently 'ill', and has trippy nightmares involving a bejeweled demon.

At a Christmas party, the Castevets give Terry a mysterious locket and she suddenly becomes pregnant.

Could the bun she's cooking in her oven be Satan?

The girl who fell

Aside from giving minor character her own film, (less husband), this basically remakes the original, begging the question - what's the fucking point?

Trapped in 7A with the coven, Terry literally has her last dance, against The Ronettes' Be My Baby.

Presumably a few minutes after Terry jumps from window, the Castevets come home and witness a couple giving a statement to the police, who are clearly Rosemary and Guy Woodhouse.

So we're supposed to believe that after Terry's suicide, Minnie and Roman left the building, went for a walk, came home again, all before the police arrived?

BULLSHIT!

Also, prequel ends about 15 real-time minutes AFTER original begins, when Rosemary and Guy meet the Castevets.

My head HURTS.

Never Let Go (2024) - The scoop and digest

Alexandre Aja's supernatural horror (ntbcw unrelated 2015 film of same name), is written by KC Coughlin and Ryan Grassby.

Halle Berry - Momma

Percy Daggs IV - Nolan

Anthony B. Jerkins - Samuel

Will Catlett - Father

Stephanie Lavigne - The Evil

Matthew Kevin Anderson - The Stranger

Summary

Film is divided into three parts, chapters, whatever.

I. The Rope is Your Lifeline

II. How Will I Feed my Children?

III. What Will Become of Us?

Momma and her two sons Nolan and Samuel live inside a cabin at a remote location in the woods.

It's explained that a malevolent force called "The Evil" (visible only to Momma) can wear many skins and has wiped out everybody but them.

One touch from The Evil results in possession, so when out foraging and hunting for food, tying ropes around their bodies connected to the house serves as protection.

Each day, Momma forces the boys to chant a prayer to thank the house for keeping them safe:

"O blessed house of ancient wood. Shelter to the pure and good. We'll keep you bright and never roam. Heaven is here, within our home."

As time goes by, Nolan begins to doubt whether The Evil actually exists.

Darkness is in your blood

Slow burn boasts great performances, decent tension and an ominous score by Rob.

Despite some effective imagery, this is ironically scarier without the creatures.

Much remains unexplained, but to be fair, Berry has confirmed that studio already have plans for a prequel, and maybe more.

All in all though, like Smile, this is just another derivative of It Follows.