At first glance, Homestead – from director Ben Smallbone – might seem like another run-of-the-mill doomsday prepper tale designed to validate hoarding canned goods and ammo. However, there’s more depth lurking beneath the surface.
When a nuclear bomb obliterates Los Angeles, former Green Beret Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase) takes his family to the Homestead—a secluded survival haven owned by his wealthy friend Ian Ross (Neal McDonough, in a shock “good guy” role). With its self-sustaining gardens, stocked armoury, and endless food supplies, the compound is a prepper’s paradise. But Homestead isn’t simply about the comforts of bunkered survival; it digs into the darker side of fear-driven living and the steep ethical price of protecting oneself at all costs.
The story unfolds as a taut moral drama, centering on the conflict between Ian and his wife Jenna (Dawn Olivieri). Ian is adamant about keeping the gates closed to the desperate, starving masses gathering outside, fearing that helping them would jeopardise their resources. Jenna, on the other hand, argues passionately for compassion, believing their Christian values compel them to help those in need.
The tension only deepens with subplots that highlight the psychological toll of paranoia and survival. One particularly harrowing sequence involves Jeff coercing another group member into a violent act against a perceived threat, with devastating fallout. It’s a stark reminder of how easily fear can distort morality.
The performances ground the drama effectively. Neal McDonough’s portrayal of Ian is a standout, offering a layered depiction of a man torn between protecting his loved ones and reckoning with the cracks in his moral armour. His ability to toggle between cold calculation and reluctant vulnerability makes Ian both relatable and troubling. Dawn Olivieri is equally compelling as Jenna, the film’s moral compass, delivering a performance that radiates empathy without veering into sentimentality. Meanwhile, Bailey Chase captures Jeff’s rugged, take-charge attitude well, though the character’s survivalist instincts occasionally slip into predictability.
Director Ben Smallbone (brother to Joel and Luke Smallbone of Christian rock group For King & Country) weaves these narrative threads together with skill. The film alternates between moments of high-stakes action and quieter, character-driven scenes. The lush, isolated mountain setting enhances the film’s atmosphere, its beauty underscoring the characters’ isolation.
However, Homestead stumbles in its ambition. Its role as a precursor to an Angel Studios TV series leaves several storylines dangling, making it feel incomplete as a standalone piece. While this approach may spark interest in the upcoming series, it dilutes the film’s impact as a self-contained story.
Despite these shortcomings, Homestead still manages to offer more substance than its survivalist premise suggests. By delving into thorny questions about faith and morality, it transcends the usual prepper fantasy.
Though not flawless, it’s a gripping and well-crafted thriller. For fans of post-apocalyptic dramas with ethical dilemmas at their core, Homestead provides enough intrigue to justify a watch—and perhaps a reason to tune in for what comes next.
