MOVIE REVIEW
Come Home
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Genre: Thriller
Year Released: 2024
Runtime: 1h 12m
Director(s): Nicole Pursell, Caitlin Zoz
Writer(s): Paton Ashbrook, Audrey Elaine Hailes, Bill Keller, Nicole Pursell, Sathya Sridharan, Chinaza Uche, Caitlin Zoz
Cast: Paton Ashbrook, Chinaza Uche, Caitlin Zoz, Sathya Sridharan
Where To Watch: arrives on UK Digital on December 9, 2024, from Miracle Media

RAVING REVIEW: When isolation turns to fear, the vast, eerie reaches of the Adirondack Mountains provide the perfect setting for a chilling story. COME HOME, directed by Nicole Pursell and Caitlin Zoz, reimagines the classic cabin-in-the-woods horror with a fresh view, injecting modern dread into an age-old genre. While the film boasts a compelling visual journey and a suspense-laden ambiance, it occasionally needs to work on weaving these elements into a coherent whole.

In COME HOME, newlyweds Mel and Ikenna, portrayed by Caitlin Zoz and Chinaza Uche, flee New York City's relentless pace for what they expect will be a tranquil getaway in a secluded cabin. Their friends, Taylor and Arjun—played by Paton Ashbrook and Sathya Sridharan—join the retreat, only for their hopes of peace to be dashed by mysterious forces lurking within the forest. This setting actively participates in the unfolding horror, which is critical in ramping up the film's tension and deepening the characters’ sense of entrapment.

The directors' choice of expansive, sweeping shots is a double-edged sword. At the same time, these scenes frame the characters against the oppressive wilderness, emphasizing their vulnerability; they distance the audience. Although effective in building a haunting atmosphere, this technique sacrifices the intimacy of character development. As a result, the emotional journeys of Mel, Ikenna, Taylor, and Arjun sometimes needed to be explored deeper, diminishing audience engagement with their fates.

As COME HOME nears its climax, the storyline begins to lose its grip, shrouded in ambiguities that cloud rather than clarify. The mystery element, crucial to the horror genre, dilutes the suspense, leaving key plot points unresolved and the story's conclusion needing to be completed. The film introduces profound themes, such as the erosion of human connections and the struggle against unseen adversaries. Still, these are only lightly touched upon, leaving a sense of unrealized potential.

The film's auditory landscape, subtle whispers, and unsettling tonal shifts effectively complement the visual storytelling, creating an immersive, gripping experience. The performances, especially those of Uche and Sridharan, stand out even if we’re left wanting more!

An intriguing aspect of COME HOME is its thematic undercurrents inspired by the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting themes of isolation and societal anxiety. This backdrop enriches the narrative, adding a layer of contemporary relevance to the horror. It’s a parallel that is all too real in a world that still hasn’t fully healed from a life-changing experience!

COME HOME is a visually arresting but narratively uneven exploration of indie horror that signals promise for future endeavors by Pursell and Zoz. Its ambitious execution and atmospheric depth will resonate with indie horror fans, though some might find themselves longing for a more tightly knit narrative and character development. This film lays down a solid foundation, suggesting that future projects could achieve a more profound impact with more narrative tightness.

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[photo courtesy of MIRACLE MEDIA]

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