Common Sense Media Review
By JK Sooja
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Sexual violence, grisly images in gory horror prequel.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Apartment 7A
What's the Story?
In APARTMENT 7A, Terry Gionoffrio (Julia Garner) is a young dancer trying to make it in the big city. She was doing fine until she broke her ankle, and now everyone knows her as "the girl who fell." But out of nowhere, she is helped by Minnie (Dianne Wiest) and Roman Castevet (Kevin McNally), and they offer their extra apartment to her. But not everything is as it seems, as Terry soon finds out.
Is It Any Good?
Julia Garner is incredible in this horror prequel, but unfortunately Apartment 7A doesn't have a lot for Garner to work with. It's hard to imagine Terry's facial subtleties, micro expressions, and thoughtfully complex reactions being written into the story or being told to her by the director. Garner's performance is genuine and subtle and almost pulls this film through its murky middle and its struggle to define itself against an all-time horror classic. But in the end, this prequel doesn't have anything to say or add, and some of the horror becomes a bit hokey. Perhaps this film's biggest sin is not being terribly scary. Sure, it manages to force a few grisly images as jump scares, but they fall flat against the lack of a strong identity of what this film wants to be.
There is a brief moment when the film almost leans into a feminist critique of this story being a metaphor for the fight over the control over women's bodies and reproductive rights, but quickly this suggestion is nipped in the bud. Instead, the plot arc, supporting characters, and unavoidable eventuality of Terry's impending death all work toward an underwhelming final product. The film's conclusion doesn't help, as it's anticlimactic, not exciting or surprising, and a foregone conclusion long before its execution. What's left is ultimately a hollow retread of a story that was done much better over 50 years ago.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in horror movies. Did any of the horror violence in Apartment 7A surprise you? What were the scariest moments?
How do characters show resilience, perseverance, and courage? How does Terry overcome her fears of not being good enough?
Why do you think Terry returns to the apartment building after having escaped?
Do you feel this film does a good job setting up Rosemary's Baby? Why, or why not?
Are you happy with the ending? Why, or why not?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : September 27, 2024
- Cast : Julia Garner , Dianne Wiest , Kevin McNally , Jim Sturgess
- Director : Natalie Erika James
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Paramount+
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Fantasy
- Run time : 104 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violent content and drug use
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate