Worth: $4.00
FilmInk rates movies out of $20 — the score indicates the amount we believe a ticket to the movie to be worth
Cast:
Jamie Bernadette, Brian Krause, Greg Kriek, Betsy Sligh, Cavan Tonascia, Diamond Dallas Page
Intro:
… struggles to do much with the minimal plot and fizzles out when it should end on a bang.
Homestead is a micro budget western written and directed by Ehrland Hollingsworth.
It’s the 1800s, and having run away from an abusive marriage, Beth (Jamie Bernadette) now lives in a modest cabin with her children Irene (Betsy Sligh) and Brian (Cavan Tonascia), as well as her new beau Robert (Brian Krause). Their life seems idyllic, even if 12-year-old Irene does appear to just tell complete strangers that one day she’ll kill her father. One of those strangers happens to be Jonathan (Greg Kriek), a passing surveyor working for the railroad. Or at least that’s what Jonathan is claiming.
The façade quickly drops with Beth and her children finding out that Jonathan and Robert used to be outlaws together. Once known as The Headhunter, Robert double crossed his gang and hightailed to the sunset with a load of cash. What follows is a home invasion film, as Jonathan and his cronies take the family hostage in exchange for Robert coughing up the dough.
Up front, Homestead is a good looking film that captures the unending dryness of the Oklahoma plains. Hollingworth’s opening shot and subsequent introduction to his cast of characters works well in bringing the audience up to speed. Speaking of the cast, everyone appears to be bringing their best, especially the young Sligh.
However, there’s something missing from Homestead and it’s hard to pinpoint what it is exactly. Starting production before the pandemic, there’s a sense that plot points and set pieces have had to be shed to get the film to the distributors on time. Take for example, Irene being shown to be a competent sharpshooter and potential psycho in a tiny body. There’s no reason to think that the film isn’t going to go down the route of 2020’s Becky with Sligh cutting through Jonathan’s gang like a machete through butter. So, it’s a disappointment to find the film so bloodless, with everyone just talking like gravel and giving mean stares. When things do get violent, Homestead’s action scenes will leave you wanting. No one is expecting John Wick acrobatics, but there needs to be something to sink your teeth into.
While competently made and featuring a willing cast, Homestead struggles to do much with the minimal plot and fizzles out when it should end on a bang.
