HOMESTEAD (2024)

Genre: Thriller/Drama
Director: Ben Smallbone
Cast: Bailey Chase, Kearran Giovanni, Neal McDonough, Dawn Olivieri, Olivia Sanabia, Jesse Hutch, Charles Esten, Jill Wagner, Sam Page, Kevin Lawson and Grace Powell
Runtime: 1 hr 53 mins
Rating:
PG13 (Some Violence)
Released By: Shaw
Official Website: 

Opening Day: 17 July 2025

Synopsis: 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?.

Movie Review:

‘Homestead’ imagines what happens if a nuclear bomb went off along the coast of California, but before you wonder if this is going to be another Roland Emmerich disaster thriller, let us reassure you that it is not; instead, this is a morality drama from faith-based Angel Studios that invites us to ponder if such a scenario unfolded whether we would defend our own self-interests for the sake of survival or open our hearts to those around us who would also need help.

That tension is presented in the form of the titular homestead owned by Ian Ross (Neal McDonough), whose fortress-like mansion on a hill was conceived precisely in the event of the need for self-sufficiency. Besides provisions for food and energy, Ian had also invested in contracting a security detail to safeguard against potential looters; that detail is led by former Green Beret veteran Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase), whose squad of men with similar backgrounds have different views on how aggressive to enforce a security perimeter around the premises.

Ian’s conflict is exacerbated by his wife Jenna’s (Dawn Oliveri) generosity, offering to distribute food and even bake bread for those clamouring outside the gates of their homestead to get in. Ditto their daughter Claire (Olivia Sanabia), who despite being home-schooled, has a heart of compassion; that same quality leads her to bond with Jeff’s son Abe (Tyler Lofton) after an unfortunate tragedy causes him to almost lose his bearings.

It is no secret that director Ben Smallbone did not have a sizeable budget to work with, so instead of doing too much, Smallbone doubles down on the community within and beyond the gates of Ian’s homestead. In addition to the aforementioned characters, other notable supporting players include Jeff’s Army veteran wife Terra (Kearran Giovanni), their adopted daughter Georgie (Georgiana White), and an irascible local governor who threatens to seize the property under the guise of doing what is necessary for the community.

Because it is planned to lead into two episodes of the same name, ‘Homestead’ doesn’t quite close off each of the subplots neatly; in particular, it leaves viewers guessing the origins and fate of Georgie, who has the unexplained ability to foresee the nuclear disaster at the start of the movie and the events that would follow after. Notwithstanding the unresolved portions of the film, it still proves a surprisingly engaging watch from start to finish, anchored by strong performances from its relatively unknown cast. Each has been given a moral dilemma to grapple with, and in their own respective ways, flesh that out to the best that the story offers.

We will also say that those who are religious will be moved by the parable in the last act of the movie – that of the five loaves and two fish in the Bible. The parallels will be clear from the beginning to those who know the text, but it doesn’t dull the philosophical impact of seeing Jenna and Terra step up beyond their own self-protective instincts to trust in the providence of God.

So like we said, ‘Homestead’ is hardly a big-budget disaster thriller; instead, it uses a high concept to illustrate a parable about loving thy neighbour. To be sure, it doesn’t flaunt its religious beliefs on its sleeves, so those worried about being preached to can rest easy; still, it packs a sufficiently compelling moral punch to have you thinking just what humanity ought to be defined by, and the choices we can make to bring about kindness, compassion and hope.

Movie Rating:

(Less disaster thriller than morality drama, this faith-based tale of a community who is faced with the conumdrum of what to do with those outside their gates is reasonably engaging)

Review by Gabriel Chong

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