The The Home Movie Review digs into The Home, a 2025 psychological horror by James DeMonaco (writer/director), co-written with Adam Cantor, starring Pete Davidson, John Glover, and Bruce Altman. The film mixes the mundane with the macabre as Max, a graffiti artist with a painful past, takes on community service in a retirement home—and quickly suspects that the residents and staff hide something sinister. Below, you’ll find plot, cast & crew, thematic analysis, pros & cons, and whether this horror mystery succeeds beyond its creepy premise.
The Home Movie Review – Plot Overview
Max, a troubled foster youth, is given community service at Green Meadows Retirement Home instead of a criminal record. He’s told never to enter the fourth floor. At first, life there seems quiet, odd, but manageable. Strange incidents—residents sneaking into his room, spontaneous bleeding, sinister behavior—slowly erode his sense of safety. When a friend among the residents dies in a bizarre fall and other horrific details emerge, he starts investigating. The mystery deepens: the fourth floor holds secrets, and what he uncovers is more monstrous than he expected.
Cast & Crew – Faces Behind the Fear
- Director & Writer: James DeMonaco, also known for The Purge series, here stepping into retirement-home horror with Adam Cantor.
- Producers: Bill Block; Sébastien K. Lemercier.
- Main Cast:
• Pete Davidson as Max — grieving, rebellious, trying to bury guilt.
• John Glover as Lou — one of the more grounded residents.
• Bruce Altman as Dr. Sabian — staff member with odd behavior.
• Supporting: Ethan Phillips; Mary Beth Peil; Marilee Talkington as Gretchen; others. - Technical Crew:
• Cinematography: Anastas N. Michos
• Editing: Todd E. Miller
• Music: Nathan Whitehead
Style & Themes – Horror Through Isolation & Guilt
The Home attempts to build dread through isolation, guilt, and the uncanny. Themes include:
- Generational exploitation & age: fear not just of death, but of decay; how society treats its elders.
- Grief and guilt: Max’s past (his foster brother’s suicide) haunts him; his role at the home forces him to confront trauma.
- Institutional horror & secrecy: what’s hidden behind rules (“don’t go to the fourth floor”) becomes metaphor for suppressed truths.
Stylistically, DeMonaco toggles between quiet dread and stark jump scares; visual cues often contrast the supposed safety of the retirement home with disturbing imagery (bleeding, broken bodies, psychological breakdown). Yet many critics say tone and scares don’t always land consistently.
Reception & Critique
The Home released July 25, 2025 in the U.S. through Lionsgate & Roadside Attractions. It has generally negative reviews: many cite its plot twists, unbelievable turns, pacing problems, and performances as weak spots. Box office so far is modest ($1.7 million) which reflects its underwhelming critical reception.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Creepy premise with potential: retirement home with off-limits wing is a solid horror setup.
- Some striking imagery and moments of genuine unease.
- Pete Davidson taking on a serious horror role shows range.
- Themes around grief and guilt add emotional stakes beyond cheap scares.
Cons
- Plot twists feel illogical or tacked on rather than organically built.
- Performances sometimes lack consistency; tonal shifts hurt immersion.
- Pacing is uneven; first half slow in building tension.
- Weak character development for many supporting roles.
Final Verdict
The Home Movie Review finds that The Home (2025) delivers enough creepy moments and thematic promise to be interesting, particularly for those who like horror with psychological or metaphorical underpinnings. However, it struggles under its own ambition—plot holes, mixed tone, and uneven execution pull it back. If you want a horror film that explores guilt and aging with a dark twist and don’t mind some rough edges, The Home is worth a watch. For horror purists expecting tight scares and coherent mystery, it may feel frustrating.
For more in-depth film reviews where horror meets heart, check out GoMovies — your source for honest takes & cinematic insight.
FAQs – The Home Movie Review
What is The Home about?
A troubled young man is sentenced to work in a retirement home for community service, where strange events and a forbidden floor lead him to uncover a sinister secret.
Who directed The Home and who stars in it?
Directed by James DeMonaco, written with Adam Cantor. Main cast includes Pete Davidson, John Glover, Bruce Altman.
What themes does the film explore?
Grief, guilt, aging, institutional decay, secrecy, and boundary between safety & danger.
How have critics reacted to The Home?
Mostly negatively: praised in parts for creativity or visuals, but many say the twists are poorly handled, pacing is off, and performances don’t always work.
Is The Home worth seeing?
If you enjoy atmospheric horror, psychological themes, and don’t require perfect logic or huge scares, it’s worth watching. If you expect tight horror plotlines or polished mystery, you may be disappointed.
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