Homestead movie review

MOVIE TITLE: Homestead

This doomsday drama by Angel Studios releases in theaters the USA on December 20, 2024.

RATING: PG-13

LENGTH: 1 hour 50 minutes

MOVIE REVIEW MOM GRADE: A-

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IN A NUTSHELL:

Hopefully, this movie will give viewers a lot to think about and consider their family’s emergency preparedness plans and supplies.

The story is about family that faces difficult choices in order to survive. A nuclear bomb is detonated in Los Angeles, and the nation devolves into unprecedented chaos. Ex-Green Beret Jeff Eriksson and his family escape to The Homestead, an eccentric prepper’s fortress nestled in the mountains. As violent threats and apocalyptic conditions creep toward their borders, the residents of The Homestead are left to wonder: how long can a group of people resist both the dangers of human nature and the bloodshed at their doorstep?

The movie is based on the best-selling book series called Black Autumn by Jeff Kirkham and Jason Ross. They said that so many of their readers told them how much they loved the story and that it scared them because it could truly happen.

The film was directed by Ben Smallbone. Writing credits go to Phillip Abraham, Leah Bateman, Ben Kasica.

THINGS I LIKED:

I really like Neal McDonough and am so impressed with his filmmaking choices. Because he values his wife and marriage so much, he has chosen to never disrespect her by kissing another woman in a movie. What a guy. And those piercing, blue eyes! He does a great job in this film showing realistic reactions and conflicting emotions about the dangerous situations his family faces in the story. He’s equally effective playing a bad guy as a good guy. He stated that he really liked Angel Studios and the opportunity to play a good guy. After he starred in the 2023 film The Shift, he agreed to share future projects with Angel Studios; this is the first of those projects he suggested to them.
Other cast members include Dawn Olivieri, Bailey Chase, Kearran Giovanni, Susan Misner, and Tyler Lofton, among many others. They all did a great job.
One thing that makes this movie different is that it was created to be a film first and then immediately expand into a series.
I’m so impressed with Angel Studios for pumping out so many excellent movies in the past few years. Their method of marketing is unique and inspirational; they actually give away a ton of free tickets! You can learn about their Angel Guild at https://www.angel.com/movies/homestead
I love the song at the beginning of the movie by For King and Country and called “Burn the Ships”. Check out my movie review of Unsung Hero which is all about how they and their sister got their start in the music industry. https://moviereviewmom.com/unsung-hero-movie-review/
We see a cute cartoon playing on a TV in Act 1. It’s a show called Tuttle Twins, also by Angel Studios.
The crew lived like homesteaders while they were filming so they could “feel” the environment.
One of the things I really like about this film is that the scenario is extremely realistic. As we’ve seen before, the world can change in a minute, leaving people scrambling, confused, and frightened. Those who pay attention to the news and signs will be smart enough to plan ahead. Preparedness truly does bring peace. If you want to learn practical tips for where to begin, check out www.providentliving.org
This isn’t just a survival movie but a film that presents complicated scenarios with complex moral decisions that need to be made.

THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE:

Some of the characters make dumb choices without considering the natural consequences. It’s frustrating to watch, yet also very believable. In high-stress situations, we often make decisions based on our emotions, rather than our logic. The film actually does a really good job illustrating thinking with your heart vs. your brain. Which is right? You get to decide! I think it’s that exact dilemma that will get a lot of people talking about this movie and upcoming series.