Running Time: 95 Minutes
Certification: 18
Starring: Pete Davidson, John Glover, Mary Beth Peil, Bruce Altman, Ethan Phillips, Jessica Hecht, Victor Williams
While he has been working since the mid-90s, with his first credit being for co-writing Francis Ford Coppola's Jack, writer/director James DeMonaco is best known for creating an enduring horror franchise in The Purge. After passing the directorial torch onto other creatives, DeMonaco stepped away from the series for 2021's drama This is the Night, and now returns to the horror genre. He may best associated with a high-concept franchise, but The Home is a more confined affair.
Grappling with childhood grief about his older brother's passing, aspiring artist Max (Pete Davidson) has fallen into trouble with the police. To avoid prison, he agrees to serve community service by helping out at a high-class retirement home. Working within the building leads him to befriend the residents, but suspicions soon mount as he has disturbing dreams, sees strange occurrences, and is told about a mysterious fourth floor that is strictly off-limits.
From the moment Max arrives at the retirement home, it is clear that all is not well. While a character speaks about the elderly deserving comfort amidst the boredom of their twilight years, creepy occurrences happen which spook Max, and one wishes DeMonaco could replicate that feeling for viewers. The approach to this story can feel reminiscent of Get Out, but only on a superficial level as the film lacks sharp writing, unsettling scenes of terror, and laugh-out-loud humour. In its place are lacking jump scares, dreadful ADR work, and scenes of old people doing weird things, all of which feels rather cheap.
Taking on the lead role is Pete Davidson, a former Saturday Night Live cast member known for his comedic work. While this serious role would offer him the opportunity to change gears and show audiences his range, that is never truly felt here. Instead, the performance feels like Davidson is moments away from making jokes, with his delivery often undercutting serious moments. As 2020's The King of Staten Island effectively showed, the actor can deliver serious moments, but this performance feels as though he is struggling with the material.
As the third-act arrives complete with eye trauma, the revelations make it apparent how overly complicated things truly are. An oncoming storm reflects a rage which has been building, now unleashed in a blood-soaked rampage that is satisfying to watch. While the grisly sequence makes for an effective watch, it does not make up for the lackluster 80 minutes which came before it. As such, The Home is a disjointed mess that will struggle to stay in one's mind.
The Home made its UK Premiere at FrightFest 2025
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