'Apartment 7A' Reviews: "I give it points for the impeccable production design and the always magnificent Julie Garner, but 7A doesn't have the X factor that the beloved original has"

         On September 27, 2024, Paramount+ premiered 'Apartment 7A', which has received a mixed reception from critics, currently holding at 48% on Rotten Tomatoes. In the limited series, "When a struggling, young dancer (Julia Garner) suffers a devastating injury, she finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected, older couple promises her a shot at fame." The ensemble cast includes Jim Sturgess, Dianne Wiest, Kevin R. McNally, and Andrew Buchan. But what did the critics say?

        Ryan Lattanzio of indieWire says, "It doesn’t blow open or reinvent the Rosemary’s Baby mythology, but it’s a decent primer to attract younger audiences back to the 1968 classic film." Adding, "How well do you know your “Rosemary’s Baby“? In Roman Polanski’s 1968 film and in Ira Levin’s novel published the year before, new Bramford tenant Rosemary Woodhouse meets a young woman in the basement laundry room, Terry Gionoffrio, who says the Castavets rescued her from drug addiction and homelessness. Smash cut to the next day, and her mangled corpse is found in a pool of her own blood outside the Bramford apartment complex, having jumped to her death. (The actual building is the Dakota, a German Renaissance-inspired, 94-unit coop on 72nd Street on the Upper West Side.) “Apartment 7A,” the atmosphere-drenched, classed-up new film directed by talented “Relic” filmmaker Natalie Erika James, is a direct prequel to “Rosemary’s Baby” that focuses entirely on Terry’s story and the events that led to her suicide. It doesn’t blow open or reinvent the “Rosemary’s Baby” mythology, but it’s a decent primer to attract younger audiences back to the 1968 classic film. Terry is played by the ever superb “Ozark” triple Emmy winner Julia Garner, eventually in a Gwen Verdon-style, brunette coiffure that suits the blonde-haired, fair-skinned, sharp-cheekboned actress recently cast as Madonna. As Minnie and Roman Castavet — played by Oscar winner Ruth Gordon and Sidney Blackmer in Polanski’s movie — “Apartment 7A” features the great Dianne Wiest and Kevin McNally, who both eerily resemble and sound like their predecessors. Close your eyes while Wiest, in horned-rimmed sunglasses and outrageous hats and outfits, is speaking, and she’s a dead ringer for Gordon in speech."

       Lee McCoy of DrumDums notes, "I give it points for the impeccable production design and the always magnificent Julie Garner, but 7A doesn't have the X factor that the beloved original has."

       James Preston Poole of But Why Tho? A Geek Community writes, "Natalie Erika James showcases her talent enough to prevent Apartment 7A from becoming a slog. Still, outside of Julia Garner’s commitment, there’s nothing fresh under the hood to recommend visiting Apartment 7A."

       Cody Leach of Cody Leach says, "Garner & Wiest shine in an otherwise predictable prequel. The look and atmosphere is a commendable recreation of 1968 but the story being told plays too much like a loose remake of Rosemary's Baby. Better than expected...but nothing remarkable."

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

        Meagan Navarro of Bloody Disgusting was less impressed, stating, "It’s been a year of horror prequels, with The First Omen and A Quiet Place: Day One renewing faith in the prequel’s ability to find unexpected, poignant story threads still left to explore, especially with talented voices driving them. That Apartment 7A, the prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, stacks the talent in front of and the behind the camera instills hope for the prequel’s continued hot streak. Unfortunately, a bland script and limiting story choices bind this prequel so thoroughly that it winds up a tedious retread of Rosemary’s Baby. Apartment 7A opts to explore the story of Terry Gionoffrio (Julia Garner), the friendly dancer who befalls a grim fate shortly before Rosemary Woodhouse moves into the Bramford. It introduces Terry just as she’s about to join the stage for a dance number, which is abruptly cut short by a brutal snapping of Terry’s ankle, effectively crippling her career. A series of setbacks and failed auditions eventually leads her to Alan Marchand (Jim Sturgess), a show producer who also happens to be a resident at the Bramford. In Terry’s bid to get into Marchand’s good graces, she finds herself taken in by the generous, warm Castevets – Roman (Kevin McNally) and Minnie (Dianne Wiest). But Terry obviously will discover her good fortune comes with a steep cost." Continuing, "Director Natalie Erika James, who delivered a stunning, poignant debut in 2020’s Relic, feels trapped by this prequel. It hits every expected plot beat with rote efficiency, seamlessly matching the prequel’s ending to Terry’s fate in Rosemary’s Baby. With a lack of scares or any new narrative revelations, Apartment 7A brings nothing new for audiences to grab hold of. That it bears a lot in common with The First Omen doesn’t help at all, either. While it ultimately will be more welcoming to newcomers unfamiliar with Rosemary’s Baby, those who are will likely find this a handsomely made but overly familiar slog."