Apartment 7A is a prequel to the horror classic Rosemary’s Baby. The film focuses on Terry Gionoffrio, played by Julia Garner. Terry is a dancer who dreams of success. Fans of Rosemary’s Baby will recognize Terry as the young woman who meets Rosemary, played by Mia Farrow, in the basement of the Bramford.
Sadly, Terry later jumps out of a window to her death. In Rosemary’s Baby, Minnie, played by Ruth Gordon, and Roman Castevet, played by Sidney Blackmer, describe Terry as a recovering drug addict. However, Apartment 7A shows a different version of her story.
In this film, Minnie and Roman, played by Dianne Wiest and Kevin McNally, find Terry in a confused state after taking too many painkillers.
They take her in, but Terry is more focused on her career than they expected. The film follows a similar story structure as the original, but it has a new ending that makes it feel more modern while leading up to the events of Rosemary’s Baby.
Terry Faces a Dark Plot
At the beginning of Apartment 7A, Terry injures her ankle during a performance. The painkillers she takes often make her feel dazed. After moving into the Bramford, she begins to hallucinate. However, these frightening visions do not come from the painkillers.
They start when Broadway director Al Marchand, played by Jim Sturgess, drugs her for a ritual conducted by a Satanic cult living in the Bramford.
This ritual involves Satan raping and impregnating Terry without her consent. As a result, she sees visions of the devil, feels hands touching her waist, and even imagines a bloody baby in her washing machine.
Minnie introduces Terry to Mrs. Gardenia, played by Tina Gray, another resident of the Bramford. Mrs. Gardenia gives Terry a homemade salve for her ankle, which helps heal it quickly. However, one night, Mrs. Gardenia breaks into Terry’s apartment and attacks her.
Knowing she is pregnant, Mrs. Gardenia tries to kill Terry to prevent her from having the devil’s baby. However, someone or something stops her, and she ends up in a coma, similar to Hutch in the original Rosemary’s Baby. Later, Terry discovers a hidden door in her pantry that leads to Mrs. Gardenia’s apartment. She explores inside and finds a red book that details Satanic rituals.
After moving in, Terry finds an old dance shoe in her drawer with the name Joan Cebulski written inside. When she shows it to Minnie, Minnie says Joan “skipped out of here like Cinderella at midnight” and throws the shoe away. But Terry keeps it.
When Dr. Sapirstein, played by Patrick Lyster, ignores her health concerns, Terry decides to leave the Bramford and investigate Joan Cebulski.
Joan was also a Broadway dancer who disappeared six months earlier. Among her belongings, Terry finds a Bible and a rosary. Terry takes Mrs. Gardenia’s red book to the nearest church to confess her fears. There, a nun tells her about Joan and the Satanic residents of the Bramford.
The nun explains that rumors about a Satanic cult at the Bramford have been around for years. The red book is their scripture. Joan was a victim of the cult and went to the church to repent. However, after fleeing the Bramford at night, she was hit by a bus.
Eyewitnesses say they saw her being chased. The leader of the coven summoned the devil and used Joan to have his child. Now, Terry is chosen for the same purpose. After speaking with the nun, Terry tries to get an abortion, but the power of the devil’s baby inside her violently pushes the woman performing the procedure away.
Terry’s Final Dance and Sacrifice
In Rosemary’s Baby, it is too late for Rosemary; her baby has already been born. Despite this, she stays with the cult to care for him, even though he is the child of Satan. Terry, on the other hand, is still early in her pregnancy. She refuses to let her body be used for evil.
Realizing she has no escape, Terry decides to perform one last time. She pretends to join the cult, accepts a drink from one of the Satanists, and shouts “Hail Satan!” But inside, she plans to make a powerful statement. She dances around the room, while the cult members watch her.
Eventually, she approaches the open window. Just as Minnie realizes Terry’s intention, Terry throws herself out. After her earlier attempts to get rid of the demon baby fail, she sees suicide as her only option.
This act is both defiance and sacrifice. Terry refuses to be used by the Satanic cult and saves the world from the potential evil her child could unleash. As she dies, the lullaby from Rosemary’s Baby, composed by Krzysztof Komeda and sung by Mia Farrow, begins to play.
Still from Apartment 7A (Credit: Paramount+)
Apartment 7A closely follows the plot of Rosemary’s Baby, but it tells Terry’s story in a more modern way. The endings are different, showing Terry reclaiming her power, even if it means taking her own life.
Apartment 7A offers a fresh perspective on Terry Gionoffrio’s story, showcasing her struggle against a sinister Satanic cult. With her dreams and ambitions, Terry becomes a powerful symbol of defiance and agency.
Ultimately, her tragic decision to sacrifice herself underscores the lengths she will go to escape evil, making her story both haunting and empowering in this prequel to Rosemary’s Baby.
Stephen King’s story of It became popular in the ’90s with a TV series. Then, in the late 2010s, director Andy Muschietti brought the story back to life. The first movie, It Chapter One, came out in 2017 and was just the beginning of a long adaptation of the book.
The film quickly grabbed the attention of devoted King fans and casual moviegoers, who wondered who would play the older versions of the Losers. After some smart casting choices, the cast was finalized, and the stage was set for the final battle against Pennywise.
It Chapter Two followed quickly in 2019. The movie received mixed reviews, but it managed to mix reunions, trauma, and fear in this second part of the Losers’ story. Bill Skarsgård’s Pennywise takes many forms in the finale, but the heroes come together to defeat It and win in the end.
The Losers Come Back Together After 27 Years in ‘It Chapter Two’
It has been 27 years since the Losers were last seen in It Chapter One. Most of them are now in their early 40s, living imperfect lives, and their memories of Derry are mostly faded or forgotten. Bev (Jessica Chastain) is doing well as a fashion designer, but her marriage is abusive.
Bill (James McAvoy) is a published writer focused on mysteries, yet he feels stuck. Eddie (James Ransone) works as a risk analyst but struggles with anxiety and health fears from his close relationship with his mother.
Ben (Jay Ryan) runs his own architecture firm but leads a lonely life, with no one to share his achievements. Richie (Bill Hader) is a stand-up comedian who has not accepted his sexuality. However, Stan (Andy Bean) and Mike (Isaiah Mustafa) have the most heartbreaking stories.
Stan never fully recovers from his childhood horrors, leading to his suicide at the start of the film. Mike cannot move on from Derry; he keeps track of disappearances in the town and waits for Pennywise to return. Mike is the one who gathers everyone to go back to the town where they will finally confront their fears.
Pennywise is Defeated at Last in ‘It Chapter Two’
Mike’s research shows that Pennywise is an alien being that came to Earth through a meteor. For centuries, it has been tormenting humans by taking the shape of their deepest fears. Mike also learns that Pennywise can be defeated using the Native American “Ritual of Chüd.”
This ritual requires them to collect meaningful objects from their past. For example, Bill finds Georgie’s (Jackson Robert Scott) paper boat, and Mike gets a rock from their fight with Henry Bowers (Nicholas Hamilton) and his gang. These objects represent the pain Derry and Pennywise have caused them. This quest is not just about the items but also about facing their deepest fears.
As they gather these objects, the Losers must confront their shared trauma when they enter Pennywise’s lair. Armed with the knowledge to defeat Pennywise, they face It. However, Mike did not mention that the ritual had failed before. If they succeed now, it will be the first time.
Pennywise uses illusions to separate the Losers. Although they survive, Eddie ultimately dies at the hands of Pennywise. His sacrifice ignites the Losers’ anger and confidence.
They weaken Pennywise by repeatedly saying they are no longer afraid of him. As Pennywise shrinks, Mike tears out his heart, and together they crush it, causing It to fade away for good.
‘It Chapter Two’ Allows the Losers to Move Forward From Derry
The Losers leave Pennywise’s lair victorious. They take a moment to mourn Eddie before celebrating Pennywise’s defeat. As they walk through Derry, the five remaining Losers see reflections of their younger selves. This moment recalls the first film’s ending and allows the audience to say goodbye to the original cast who started this journey.
At the end of the film, Bill seems to have a new idea for his next book, which will tell their story from Eddie’s point of view. While talking to Mike on the phone, Mike says he finally feels free to leave Derry, looking forward to a fresh start.
Bev breaks the cycle and begins a caring relationship with Ben, finally acknowledging that he wrote her a love letter years ago. Richie accepts his true self and returns to the bridge where he and Eddie carved their initials. The burden on the Losers is finally lifted.
Stan writes a letter for each of them, explaining how he sacrificed himself so they could unite to fight It and survive. His final wish is for them to promise to always be honest and present for each other. No matter how successful they become, they will always be Losers at heart, making them fearless because they have nothing left to lose.
Still from It Chapter Two (Credit: Netflix)
While this second movie may not have been as fulfilling as It Chapter One, Muschietti successfully adapts the entire complicated story. Even though It Chapter Two has its flaws, it provides a satisfying conclusion to the Losers’ saga.
In It Chapter Two, the Losers reunite 27 years after their childhood encounters with Pennywise. Now in their 40s, they confront their past traumas and fears while facing the terrifying clown once again. Mike discovers a way to defeat Pennywise using a Native American ritual. Despite the loss of Eddie, the group ultimately triumphs, allowing them to move forward with their lives, embracing their identities and the bonds they share.
