Homecoming

Rating R Genre thriller Starring Mischa Barton, Matt Long, Jessica Stroup, Michael Landes Directed by Morgan J. Freeman Publisher Paper Street Films External Links

A jilted ex – girlfriend turns out to be a total psycho in Homecoming.

Mike (Matt Long) was the star of his high school football team.  Now in college, Mike is traveling back home to see his jersey retired.  Accompanying him on his trip is his new girlfriend, Elizabeth (Jessica Stroup).   This would be all fine and dandy if it weren’t for one small thing…Mike’s ex, Shelby (Mischa Barton), who isn’t quite ready to give Mike up to another woman.  When a freak car accident leaves Elizabeth stranded and in Shelby’s “care”, it becomes clear that Shelby is not as sweet as she first seemed.  

I don’t even know where to begin with this one.  How about the fact that it’s an absolutely atrocious rip – off of Misery?  Okay, okay, so I know that’s how this film was intentionally marketed (as a modern – day Misery), but that’s like a vigorous slap in the face to all Misery fans out there.  You know the saying, “don’t fix what ain’t broke”?  It’s true.  Homecoming was just unnecessary.  

The movie would have been barley acceptable if it didn’t have one thing…Mischa Barton.  (Sorry, O.C. fans.)  She’s just not a strong actor, and her emotions never seem real.  Not to mention that she sounds like she’s reading off a cue card.  Ouch.  Too harsh?  Maybe, but it’s true.  Also, I’d love to know if director, Morgan J. Freeman, told Barton to purposely act like Kathy Bates in Misery, because there were quite a few lines or moments where I thought “Um, hey!  That’s straight out of Misery!”  For instance, when Shelby (Mischa Barton) scolds a wounded Elizabeth and orders her to “start appreciating her hospitality.”  Sound familiar?!  

The movie, as a whole, was pretty boring and painfully predictable.  Don’t believe me?  Watch the ending; it’s the oldest trick in the book.  If there were a “bad horror movie trick” book, of course.  Although the film is classified as horror, it’s really not.  One; it’s not scary, two; the blood and gore is minimal.    It’s a thriller.  I think we should just leave it at that.  

There is a small gleaming light at the end of this sad little tunnel.  The one quasi – saving grace of it all is Jessica Stroup, who plays Elizabeth, Mike’s new girlfriend.  She did a pretty good job playing the terrified hostage, and I did praise all that is good and holy when she finally starts fighting back against nut – case Shelby.  Seriously, someone had to take care of that.  That girl was all kinds of crazy.  

If you want to really get into a movie and have an intellectual conversation about it afterwards….it’s best to keep looking. Homecoming is in theaters July 17th