APARTMENT 7A

Julia Garner, Dianne Wiest, Kevin McNally, Jim Sturgess.

Directed by Natalie Erica James.

Many audiences who decide to watch Apartment 7A and who have a love for films and memory for those of the past, will soon begin to realise that this is a reworking of Rosemary’s Baby. This is especially the case when Minnie and Ramon Castavet appear on the scene, and the moon might seem familiar, and the realisation that Dianne Wiest is doing impersonation of Ruth Gordon’s character in Rosemary’s Baby, as is Kevin McNally for Ralph Bellamy’s. Which means then that interest gathers pace as to how this film will resemble the original.

In the final credits, after the credit for screenplay and a credit for story, there is acknowledgement of the novel by Ira Levin.

And, then we realise that this is a prequel. For many audiences, they say that this is not necessary. Rosemary’s Baby stands on its own. However, there was a television sequel, Look at what Happened to Rosemary’s Baby (1976).

The central character, Terry, is played by Julia Garner who has built up quite a reputation in a number of films as well as television series, Fargo. She plays a young dancer from Nebraska, full of ambition, experiencing a fall and injuring her ankle. Feeling sick on the sidewalk, she is befriended by the elderly couple who become her patrons, offering the apartment and all kinds of support.

The film spends a lot of time on the choreography and dance routines, performance and rehearsals, and incorporates a number of popular songs including If my friends could see me now and, especially at the end, seeming rather incongruous and ironic at the final meeting of the coven, Be my baby.

Gradually, the Satanist issues become part of the narrative, substituting the kindness of the elderly couple, even though it does seem somewhat sinister, as well as the apartment block in which they live and its sinister corridors, and the basement the centre for the coming gatherings. Hallucinations, dreams, injuries, and a pregnancy.

There is a 21^st-century film and so the issue of an abortion is quickly raised. But there are also Catholic themes and images, Terry going to a church, an encounter with an elderly nun who reveals the truth.

And, while the heroine seems rather ingenuous, she is also fiercely ambitious, making a Faustian pact with the director to be the star of the show, and her name in lights.

After sinister episodes, and the ambiguous behaviour of the elderly couple as well as the director and the taunting co-star who also injures her ankle, twisting her foot, and Terry then becoming the star of the show, there is a finale where Terry takes the initiative to thwartthe ambitions of the coven.

There is a final moment, at the scene of the accident in the street, where Minnie and Roman set their eyes on a potential mother for their ambitions, Rosemary…

1. A prequel to Rosemary’s Baby, the basic original story, the variation on the theme, the failure to produce the baby and the need to find another woman?
2. The New York setting, Broadway and Theatre, the world of dance? The apartment block, the rooms, the corridors? Rehearsal spaces? The musical score?
3. Terry, her story, filling in the background, Nebraska, raising pigs, the slaughter, the effect on her mother, the death of her father? Moving to New York, the opening sequences, looking in the mirror, make up, the dance routine, her joy, the fall and its consequences?
4. The aftermath, her going to the auditions, the continued interrogation, having to repeat her movement, the interrogation by Alan, his wanting her to imitate the pigs? Her refusal, his praise?
5. Her apartment, her roommate, their friendship, her support?
6. Her decision to follow Alan, the apartment block, at the desk, in the street, being sick, Minnie and Roman finding her, helping her, bringing her to the apartment, the next morning? In themselves, sinister, smiling, childless? (And the performances paralleling Ruth Gordon and Ralph Bellamy in the original?) The offer, the friendship, the apartment, Terry settling in? Night date, the couple missing, Alan, the night, drugged, her fantasies in the musical, diabolical presence? The aftermath, discovering her pregnancy, the shock? Discussions with her roommate, going to the abortionist, the dire effect on the abortionist, paralleling Vera and her injuring her foot on stage?
7. The finding of the shoe of the previous tenant, asking the concierge about her, her clothes and possessions, the Bible, the indication of Satan, her mysterious death?
8. The pregnancy, the discussions with the doctor, the help from the retired judge with the medication? The later appearance in the room, the fright, the knife? The cumulative effect on Terry?
9. The rehearsals, the criticisms, Vera and her taunts? Support from Alan? , Vera’s injury, Terry declaring she wanted the role?
10. The buildup of terror, after the visit to the abortionist, the injuries? The discussions with Minnie and Roman, the realisation of Roman in the mask? Going to the basement, the discovery of the room, the Satanists? Her going to the church, the Catholic symbols, her meeting the nun, the nun and her terror, revealing the truth, the presence of the Bible?
11. Terry, her decision, the gathering in the apartment, the song and the dance routine, the choice of “Be My Baby” for the song? The reaction of the audience, her charming them, her going to the window, her fall? The shock for the group?
12. Her falling on the car, the police interrogating the young couple, Minnie and Roman watching – and the move towards the story of Rosemary’s baby?