The Home, the 2025 horror entry from director James DeMonaco, sets out to chill and unsettle, but ultimately collapses under the weight of its own indecision—and an unfortunate miscasting at its core.
The film’s premise—an eerie retirement facility hiding disturbing secrets—starts strong. The first act oozes tension, leaning heavily into atmospheric dread and unnerving imagery. Shadows linger a beat too long, whispers float through empty halls, and there’s a palpable sense of isolation that genuinely creeps under your skin. Had the film maintained that same mood throughout, we might be looking at one of the year’s sleeper hits.
But that promise quickly fades, and much of the blame lies squarely on the shoulders of its lead, Pete Davidson. Known for his comedic work and sardonic charm, Davidson seems hopelessly out of place here. His performance is flat, monotone, and emotionally disconnected—traits that might work in a deadpan comedy, but not in a horror film that hinges on psychological unraveling. The contrast between Davidson and seasoned actors like John Glover is jarring. While Glover brings gravitas and nuance to his role, Davidson trudges through the material as if he’s in an entirely different movie—or barely in one at all.
Compounding the issue is the film’s inability to stick to a consistent tone. The Home ping-pongs between slow-burn psychological horror, melodrama, and brief stabs at dark comedy. Instead of creating an eclectic or layered experience, the tonal confusion leaves the film feeling unfocused and directionless.
In the end, The Home is a missed opportunity—a film that had the bones of something genuinely unsettling but was ultimately undone by miscasting and an identity crisis. If it had trusted its stronger instincts and carried the unsettling atmosphere of its first act through to the finale, it might have been something special. Instead, it’s a house that never quite becomes a home.
