The Home (2025)
The Home (2025) Movie Review – A Psychological Descent Into Fear and Redemption
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| Theatrical Release Poster |
Quick Information
- Title: The Home
- Director: James DeMonaco
- Writers: James DeMonaco, Adam Cantor
- Main Cast: Pete Davidson, Marilee Talkington, John Glover, Bruce Altman, Ethan Phillips
- Genre: Psychological Horror, Thriller
- Runtime: 97 minutes
- Country: United States
- Language: English
- Production Companies: Miramax, Man in a Tree
- Release Date: July 25, 2025 (Theatrical)
- Distributor: Lionsgate, Roadside Attractions
Plot Summary (Spoiler-Free)
Max (Pete Davidson), a troubled young man with a mysterious past, is assigned community service at "The Home," a retirement facility perched on the edge of town. Though the job seems mundane, he is warned not to explore the fourth floor — a restriction that only fuels his curiosity. As Max interacts with residents and uncovers strange incidents, a chilling atmosphere slowly takes over. It becomes clear that the home harbors dark secrets — some tied directly to Max's forgotten childhood.
What begins as a psychological struggle transforms into a horrifying journey of self-discovery and spiritual confrontation. This is not just a story about a haunted building; it’s about the ghosts we carry inside ourselves.
Main Cast & Performances
- Pete Davidson as Max: Davidson steps away from his typical comedic roles and delivers a surprisingly grounded performance. His portrayal of a man wrestling with internal demons is intense and layered.
- Marilee Talkington as Gretchen: Gretchen, the no-nonsense head of staff, is played with terrifying restraint.
- John Glover as Henry: Glover’s presence brings classic horror gravitas, and his scenes offer both fear and melancholy.
Each actor blends seamlessly into DeMonaco's dread-filled world, adding emotional depth to what could have been stock characters.
Unique Style & Structure
The Home is more than a horror film — it’s a slow-burn psychological puzzle that draws influence from Kubrick’s The Shining, Ari Aster’s Hereditary, and M. Night Shyamalan’s The Sixth Sense.
Unique Elements:
- Chronological Disintegration: The timeline subtly fractures, representing Max's unstable memory. Flashbacks blend into current scenes without transitions.
- Auditory Hallucinations: Sounds heard only by Max are used to blur reality. You’re unsure what’s real — intentionally so.
- Color Degradation: The cinematography shifts from warm tones to colder hues as the story progresses, visually indicating Max’s descent.
- Unreliable Narration: Clues are intentionally misleading. By the end, we question whether the entire facility is real or a mental construct.
Production Details & Development
- Filming Locations: Primarily shot in a former retirement facility in Denville, New Jersey.
- Cinematography: Luca Del Puppo creates haunting visuals that mirror Max’s inner turmoil.
- Music: The score by Nathan Whitehead (The Purge franchise) combines ambient textures with eerie piano motifs.
- Inspiration: Director DeMonaco cited Jacob’s Ladder and The Others as key influences.
Director's Commentary: James DeMonaco revealed that he wanted to explore “trauma housed within institutions,” saying, “The building isn’t just haunted — it’s the physical representation of Max’s fractured psyche.” This vision guided every aspect of production, from camera angles to sound design.
Set Design: An abandoned retirement facility was entirely reconstructed to appear timeless — part 1970s, part 2000s — confusing Max and viewers alike about the film’s setting and chronology.
Camera Techniques:
- Long, unbroken tracking shots highlight Max’s isolation.
- Hallways subtly narrow as the film progresses, enhancing claustrophobia.
- Mirrors are used symbolically to represent memory distortions.
Deleted Scenes & Hidden Details (Easter Eggs)
Deleted Scenes:
- Extended Childhood Flashbacks: Originally, Max’s traumatic past was shown in greater detail, including scenes at a Catholic orphanage.
- Fourth Floor Massacre: A disturbing dream sequence that explained the deaths of past residents was removed due to test audience reactions.
- Gretchen’s Ritual: A full occult scene involving the staff’s true intentions was trimmed to preserve ambiguity.
- Max's Therapist Sessions: Several cut scenes involved Max discussing fragmented memories with a prison therapist, subtly foreshadowing the twist.
Hidden Details:
- Room 404 — a play on the internet "404 not found" error — is where Max sees visions.
- The Home’s Address (1138 Whisper Lane): A reference to George Lucas’s THX 1138 and its themes of identity loss.
- The recurring bird imagery — Ravens seen throughout signify memory and prophecy in Norse mythology.
- Music Box Lullaby: A tune that repeats in Max’s dreams is the same melody from the opening scene — suggesting a trauma loop.
- Gretchen's Office Clock: It ticks counter-clockwise in several scenes, symbolizing time rewinding for Max.
Themes and Symbolism
- Aging & Death: The fear of becoming irrelevant and forgotten mirrors Max's own abandonment trauma.
- Redemption: Max’s arc is a spiritual journey through guilt, repression, and absolution.
- Institutional Horror: Similar to Shutter Island and Session 9, the facility is a metaphor for societal neglect of the mentally ill and elderly.
- The Fourth Floor as the Subconscious: A classic Freudian metaphor — it’s the repressed level of Max’s mind, filled with horror, guilt, and memory.
- Birds as Memory Keepers: The ravens represent memory — their appearance often coincides with Max remembering a critical detail.
Awards & Recognition
- Tribeca Film Festival 2025: Winner – Best Horror Feature
- Fantasia International Film Festival: Special Jury Mention – Best Screenplay
- Pete Davidson: Nominated for Best Actor in a Horror Film (Saturn Awards 2025)
Poster Awards:
- Hollywood Horror Art Guild: Best Poster Design 2025 – For integrating psychological symbolism (broken mirror + shadows).
Critical Reception
Critics have been divided. Some praise its daring structure and layered narrative, while others call it needlessly vague. However, nearly all agree that Davidson’s performance is a career highlight.
“A bold, unrelenting descent into the subconscious — Pete Davidson is astonishing.” – Collider
“Emotionally rich and terrifying. Think The Sixth Sense meets One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.” – Dread Central
“A haunting blend of horror and healing — The Home will disturb you long after it ends.” – Bloody Disgusting
Final Thoughts & Rating
The Home demands attention, patience, and analysis. It rewards multiple viewings and invites debate. If you’re looking for jump scares, this isn’t your film. But if you crave psychological horror that’s smart and sorrowful, you’ll find much to admire.
Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5 stars)
Pete Davidson’s risk pays off. DeMonaco builds a horror film that forces you to think — and feel.
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