‘Homestead’ is a Pedestrian Post-Apocalyptic Drama

Homestead

★ ★

A nuclear bomb has detonated on the coast of California, an event for which Ian Ross (Neal McDonough) has prepared a compound. This living complex, in the Colorado Rockies, is called the Homestead. Ian lives there with his wife, Jenna (Dawn Olivieri), and daughter Claire (Olivia Sanabia). They have amassed a great deal of guns and ammo, an orchard, a vineyard, their own medical bay and various ways of growing food.

The Homestead is there for his extended family as well. When the bomb goes off, his sister-in-law Evie McNulty (Susan Misner) and her kids flee their California home, while her husband Malcom (Matt Koenig) will need to leave work and catch up with them.

Dawn Olivieri as Jenna Ross Neal McDonough as Ian Ross
© 2024 Angel Studios

Also heading to the homestead is retired Green Beret Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase), his wife Tara (Kearran Giovanni) and their children. Jeff secured them a place on the compound because he’s been hired by Ian to secure and fortify the homestead. Tara has military skills of her own, but we’re not given much background as to why.

The plot revolves around the inhabitants of the compound figuring out how to make it sustainable, protect the people inside, what to do with the people outside who are hungry and need food and whether the government is coming to their aid. Amongst this is a dichotomy of drama with the characters that often feels forced, circumstantial and rarely gets below the surface of who they are. Often, dialogue, skills and situations will come out of nowhere in service of moving the story forward or advancing the film’s message.

Bailey Chase as Jeff Eriksson and Tyler Lofton as Abe Eriksson
© 2024 Angel Studios

Quite possibly the most unlikeable character is Jeff who gives orders one minute and the next, orders that seem to contradict previous ones. Chase’s portrayal of Jeff lacks serious depth, giving us the sense that he’s acting in the part rather than embodying it.

To the film’s credit, there are some really solid themes and scenarios presented, and had they been developed better, with more three-dimensional characters, it would be a much more compelling film.

Isaiaah Dolan as Leif Eriksson and Kearran Giovanni as Tara Eriksson
© 2024 Angel Studios

My biggest complaint is what feels like a bait-and-switch ending. The film concluded in a way that shows a hopeful, faithful future for the homestead’s inhabitants. Then we’re treated to what seems like a teaser trailer, showing a much more foreboding and terrifying future for the compound. Apparently, this movie is more of a pilot episode for a TV series.

If that’s not bad enough, after the trailer, we’re treated with a QR code on the left-hand side of the screen with an actor asking us to pull out our phones – despite theater policies – and scan the code. We’re then asked to “pay the film forward” and purchase additional tickets so that others can enjoy the film also.

Other films have employed the pay-it-forward in their ad campaigns, which is perfectly fine. Putting it in the credits felt a bit desperate and left a bad taste in my mouth.

Be that as it may, I’m not sure I found Homestead compelling enough to want to continue the episodic television journey. Perhaps you’ll feel different.

Mystery & Thriller, Drama