'The Home' Review: Pete Davidson Stars in Slow-Burn Horror That's Saved by a Shocking Final Act
- Becca Johnson
- Aug 21
- 3 min read
By Becca Johnson - August 21, 2025
From the creator of The Purge franchise James DeMonaco, and starring Pete Davidson (Bodies Bodies Bodies) in the leading role, The Home is one of FrightFest’s most anticipated premieres. Davidson plays a rebellious twenty-something called Max, who is sentenced to community service at a quiet retirement home. The residents on the fourth floor are strictly off-limits, said to require ‘special care’. As his suspicions grow and he digs deeper, Max uncovers a chilling secret that puts both the residents’ lives and his own in grave danger.
With a killer third act and intriguing reveals, The Home is full of great ideas. However, the execution of the story and scares alongside slow paced run-time leave much to be desired.
The plot proposed by writer/director DeMonaco is certainly interesting, with a somewhat intriguing mystery running through it that should keep most audience members invested. There’s also some commendable filmmaking on display, particularly the playful camerawork from Anas N. Michos (The Empty Man) that elevates multiple sequences and makes for an immersive journey. However, the remainder of the execution is lackluster, causing the first two acts of The Home to move past too slowly. For a short run-time, this is quite the hindrance. The scares on display are repetitive and all too familiar, overly relying on jump scares and the overarching mystery to keep viewers entertained. The first hour-or-so of the movie merely present some strange things happening to and around Max, leading him to question the authenticity and safety of the retirement home, and this isn’t always the most engaging watch. An overuse of repetitive nightmare sequences and once again using the elderly as a vessel for spooks and scares will leave many horror fans underwhelmed with the journey the script takes us on.
The Third Act Delivers Gore, Answers, and Shocking Revelations
Luckily, the third act makes up for a lot of the prior damage, even if it can’t completely save the movie. As soon as this final minutes kick in and we start to get our answers, the film transforms into an action-packed, engaging and occasionally frightening one. No stone is left unturned, and those who don’t like to be left with questions can rest assured that the script ties up all loose ends. Every weird happening is accounted for, with every dangling plot thread explained. The gore and scares are ramped up too, with Davidson finally being allowed to flex his skills and deliver one of the most memorable moments of his career. Although it all happens a little too late, horror fans finally get the bloodshed they deserve, and above all else, the climax provided is a satisfying one that almost makes the tedious journey worthwhile. Some of the themes involved in the outcome may be familiar ones that we’ve seen before, but this doesn’t mean they don’t entertain.
Pete Davidson has proved himself a talented actor in the past, particularly within the comedy genre, but it’s easy to surmise that this may not be the right role for him. Max goes through a lot during the 95 minute run-time, but in terms of reactions and fear factor, Davidson doesn’t really show much. Bodies falling from great heights and unknown women appearing in his room apparently don’t warrant much of a response, and although Davidson does show some urgency when the end nears, it’s too little too late. His lack of reaction could be explained by Max being so deep in trauma from his younger life, but even those with troubled pasts would be scared senseless going through the ordeals that Max is forced through.
Luckily, the supporting cast are great, particularly John Glover (Smallville) who flexes a lot of range and steals the screen anytime he’s on it. Though lacking screen-time, Friends and Breaking Bad royalty Jessica Hecht does her most with it, and a memorable turn is also delivered by Mary Beth Peil (The Stepford Wives) as resident Norma.
A Flawed but Entertaining Horror with a Memorable Finale
The Home can be easily summarized as a fine journey leading to a good destination. Whilst the lead performer doesn’t get to fully shine until the final moments and it lacks scares and substance throughout a large portion of the run-time, some good side performances, flavoursome camerawork and a killer final act save The Home from failing. Better scares and a tighter first two acts would’ve increased the movie from good to great, but at the very least, what we are provided with showcases good ideas and a memorable finale.
'The Home' releases on digital platforms August 22
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