56 years after the release of Rosemary’s Baby, audiences at Fantastic Fest 2024 were whisked back to the Bramford in Natalie Erika James’s (Relic) dark new thriller.

To keep the legacy of Rosemary’s Baby firmly intact, Apartment 7A serves as the perfect prologue to the infamous 1968 occult flick, filling in some of the empty spaces within the walls of the Bramford. Set in the year 1965, the film follows dancer and actress Terry Gionoffrio (Julia Garner)—a name fans might recognize from Rosemary’s trip to the laundry room. The curtains have come down on Terry, or at least that is how she feels after suffering a devastating injury and becoming known as “the girl who fell.” After an embarrassing audition with show director Alan Marchand (Jim Sturgess), Terry decides to give it her all and make an unexpected visit to his apartment in hopes of changing his mind. This is where she makes the acquaintance of Roman and Minnie Castevet (Kevin McNally and Dianne Wiest). The Castavet’s pick this poor girl up from out of the gutter and the rest is history. 

In a cinema landscape that is littered with remakes, requels, legacy sequels, and prequels, it may be easy for audiences to resist the allure of Apartment 7A. Who would dare touch such a beloved classic as Rosemary’s Baby? Ira Levin’s 1967 novel, and Roman Polanksi’s subsequent film adaptation, came to fruition just a couple years after substantial changes were made in the realm of reproduction and women’s rights such as FDA approval of the first contraception pill and historic Supreme Court rulings like Griswold v. Connecticut (1965). Now, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade (1973), it is only fitting that the Castavets make their return. 

Although this story happens before the Woodhouses become entangled with the eccentric and Satanic elderly couple, the nuances teased out through Terry’s story help Apartment 7A feel fresh and lively–benefitting from having Natalie Erika James at the helm. Isn’t it amazing what can happen when women are allowed to tell their own stories? The most compelling spin on the narrative laid forth by Rosemary’s Baby, is that Terry herself is a marriage between Rosemary and Guy’s characters. She possesses Guy’s ambition and dedication to her career in showbiz, but becomes victim to the devious plot lurking the halls of the Bramford. Single, childless, and unwilling to let a pregnancy stand in the way of her need to dance. Terry is a far cry from Rosemary, who was eager to become a mother, making her a character with which many more women can resonate. To be clear, Rosemary’s journey towards taking back her autonomy is iconic, for lack of a better word. Mia Farrow beautifully portrays the intricacies that still exist for women who do want to be mothers, namely the overwhelming sacrifice of child-bearing, and the frustrations of having the decisions over your body fall into the hands of men. Nonetheless, exploring the women that came before her, laying the groundwork for improvements in Roman and Minnie’s devilish plans, makes for a riveting viewing experience. 

Because Terry is a dancer and actress trying to make it in a cut-throat industry, Apartment 7A is smart to examine the other ways Terry relinquishes control in her life and expose the other figures abusing their power and authority to prime girls like her for a ritualistic purpose. Apartment 7A moves between being dark and moody to bright and whimsical, making callbacks to classics like The Red Shoes and Suspiria–and as a dancer, it is always thrilling to see new films added to the dance-horror canon.

Grade: B+

Oscars Prospects:
Likely: None
Should be Considered: None

Release Date: September 27, 2024
Where to Watch: Streaming on Paramount+