HOMEWRECKER AVAILABLE ON DEMAND/DVD/DIGITAL
Reviewed by Me’Chele Sevanesian: There’s nothing like a horror movie, nothing. Horror is one of the best-invented genres and it’s because horror can be so malleable. It can be psychological, political, and even comedic.
There’s something to be said about how dark humor works, and horror does a good job at highlighting the good, the bad, and the ugly. Homewrecker directed by Zach Gayne had so much of all these things. The movie begins where we meet our first protagonist, Linda(Precious Chong) who lives alone and fills her days with painting and exercise classes. If I could calculate at first glance, I would say Linda spends well over $1,000 a month on different athletic classes. She meets her soon to be co-star Micellle(Alex Essoe) an interior designer and newlywed in the lobby of a ballet class. The two become “unlikely” friends primarily because of the large age gap between them. Looking for a new friend, Linda persuades Michelle into visiting her home for a spontaneous interior design consultation. There are other mini storylines that I won’t get into but I really really liked this movie.
Linda is essentially starving for her youth and sees that in Michelle which is what drives her obsession. The set design of Linda’s home is also amazing because Linda is unorganized and a bit of a hoarder but as her character develops you realize that the collection of her past is extremely important to her sanity. Much of her personality in public is peculiar. She overacts and is quite jumpy with nervous energy which, Chong portrays well not making it appear as though she is overacting but keeping it strictly in character. During the first actual sit down between Linda and Michelle, she’s extremely wide-eyed and Michelle catches Linda staring at her like an adoring fan. Linda keeps repeating how much she “loves” the cafe and their matcha lattes and I just love how the character is portrayed.
Throughout the film, Linda looks at Michelle as though she is infatuated with her as if she holds the golden ticket to a mysterious prize. When she does kidnap Michelle and lock her away she explains how everyone wanted to either be her friend or to become like her and now all of those people are gone. This is an extremely universal and timeless theme considering the fact that even now Instagram influencers talk about the excess pressure to promote and provide visuals of perfection on the surface and the struggle with loneliness behind doors. The horror aspect is just a fun add-in with the fight scenes and second-hand claustrophobia.
I give this film a 10/10. I just really enjoyed every bit of it. The acting was great, but there is SOMETHING TO BE SAID ABOUT A GOOD SET DESIGN!!! The set sent me over the edge consider me #Linda’d!
