‘The Home’ Delivers Bizarre Climax, But Falls Flat
Pete Davidson’s Horror Flick Lacks Cohesion, Relies on Cheesy Tropes
A retirement home’s sinister secrets unravel in “The Home,” a mystery-thriller that struggles to find its footing. Despite a promising premise, the film is hampered by inconsistent performances and a muddled approach to horror.
A Foster Kid’s Unsettling Service
“The Home” centers on **Max** (Pete Davidson), a young man sentenced to community service at a nursing facility after vandalizing buildings. The foster kid, still reeling from his brother’s suicide, soon notices disturbing behavior among the residents and staff, suspecting a dark conspiracy is at play.
The film attempts a mystery-driven narrative, hinting at sinister activities by the home’s caretakers. However, **Max’s** realization of the unfolding evil is painstakingly slow, requiring the plot to explicitly spell out every revelation for both him and the audience.
Underrated Actor Shines Amidst Caricatures
The performances largely fail to impress, with **Pete Davidson** reportedly struggling to convey the necessary dramatic weight, appearing disinterested for much of the film. His connection with **Mary Beth Peil** as Norma, a resident who warns him of the home’s peculiarities, offers a glimmer of genuine interaction.
On the other hand, veteran actor **John Glover** is a standout, fully embracing the eccentricities of his character. He injects a much-needed energy into the film, providing one of the few well-developed roles amidst a sea of flat caricatures designed solely to unsettle or deceive.
CGI-Heavy Violence and Nonsensical Imagery
While “The Home” features several violent sequences, the impact is diminished by an overreliance on CGI, undermining any potential for practical effects. The film also incorporates jarring demonic imagery that feels disconnected from the overarching plot, leading to a sense of thrown-together horror elements.
It can really feel like they’re just throwing various horror tropes at the screen and seeing what sticks.
Despite director **James DeMonaco’s** extensive horror background, the movie suggests a detachment from the genre’s core principles. This results in a hollow experience that fails to deliver genuine scares.
A Chaotic, Rewatchable Climax
The final ten minutes of “The Home” offer a surprising burst of chaotic energy, injecting a degree of rewatchability through sheer absurdity. The sheer disbelief generated by the climax’s wild turns and karmic retribution elicits a smile, a stark contrast to the preceding mediocrity.
Ultimately, “The Home” feels like a missed opportunity, presenting a potentially decent story in an overly cheesy package that firmly places it in B-movie territory. As evidenced by audience walkouts, the film struggles to define its target audience, perhaps appealing only to those who enjoy so-bad-it’s-good cinema. For context, the horror film industry generated over $1.5 billion in box office revenue in 2023, highlighting the demand for effective genre entries (Statista, 2024).
THE HOME IS PLAYING IN THEATERS NATIONWIDE STARTING JULY 25TH, 2025.