Movie · 2024 · Horror, Thriller · 1h 44m · R · English
Curator score: 1.1/10 (74.1K ratings)
Rosemary was not the first.
Overview
A struggling young dancer finds herself drawn in by dark forces when a peculiar, well-connected older couple promise her a shot at fame.
Ratings
Curator score: 1.1/10
IMDb: 5.9/10
Letterboxd: 2.73/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 45%
Metacritic: 49
TMDB: 6.1/10
Director
Natalie Erika James
Production
Sunday Night Productions, Platinum Dunes, Paramount Pictures
Cast
Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Jim Sturgess, Kevin McNally, Marli Siu, Andrew Buchan, Rosy McEwen, Kobna Holdbrook-Smith, Anton Blake Horowitz, Raphael Sowole, Tina Gray, Patrick Lyster, Rachel Atkins, Andre Lillis, Simon Adkins, Lukas McFarlane, Dylan Baldwin, Sean Browne, David Bardsley, Hannah Morley
Where to watch
Paramount Plus Premium, Paramount Plus Essential
Curator Review
Verdict
A polished but heavily derivative occult thriller that leans on Rosemary’s Baby-style dread more than it builds a distinct identity of its own. The lead performance and production design give it enough atmosphere to work for fans of glossy, slow-burn horror, but the familiarity is hard to ignore.
Best for
Viewers who enjoy elegant, slow-burn occult horror
Fans of 1970s-style paranoia and apartment-set dread
People who prioritize lead performances and atmosphere over originality
Rosemary’s Baby devotees curious about a prequel-adjacent spin
Skip if
You want a fresh or surprising horror premise
You’re tired of direct homage and legacy-sequel/prequel storytelling
You prefer fast, violent, or overtly scary horror
You need a movie that stands strongly on its own without comparisons
Overview
Apartment 7A is built with real craft: the period detail is rich, the apartment setting feels oppressive, and Julia Garner gives the material a brittle, watchable intensity. Natalie Erika James knows how to stage unease, and the film often succeeds as a mood piece even when the plot is telegraphing its moves well in advance.
Worth noting
The problem is that the movie lives in the shadow of a much greater predecessor. It keeps circling the same ideas, imagery, and rhythms, so the tension comes less from discovery than from recognition. For viewers who like seeing a familiar horror mythology reframed with glossy production values, that may be enough.
Bottom line
As a standalone thriller, though, it feels more competent than essential. The atmosphere, performances, and final stretch give it some bite, but the overall experience is closer to an elegant echo than a new nightmare.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Joe A (2★) · 1094 likes
Somehow rosemary’s baby has returned.
Jokes aside, weird decision to essentially remake an iconic movie but package it as prequel.
B E R T (4★) · 853 likes
I’d absolutely LOVE to see how screwed these satanists would be if Julia Garner as Anna Delvey moved into Apartment 7A.
aurora 𖦹 (1.5★) · 627 likes
I thought it couldn’t get anymore worse but then they went ahead and bedazzled the devil
joe (3.5★) · 522 likes
decent prequel. nothing really new here but anyone who loves rosemarys baby will definitely enjoy this! loved all the comebacks & easter eggs. jaw dropping final scene, phenomenal set design & stunning visuals plus a fantastic lead performance from julia garner! 👹🍼