Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Gun violence in faith-based doomsday survival movie.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 13+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
Homestead
What's the Story?
In HOMESTEAD, a nuclear device is detonated in Los Angeles, knocking out the power nationwide and sending people into a panic. But Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase) is prepared and knows just what to do. He packs up his guns and supplies and takes his wife, Tara (Kearran Giovanni), and their children to the home of Ian Ross (Neal McDonough) and his wife, Jenna (Dawn Olivieri). Ian has been preparing for this moment: He has plenty of security and food. Several more trained shooters are also there to act as guards. Jeff starts taking charge, warning Ian not to let others inside the gate, as it will threaten their food supply. Jeff and Tara's oldest son, Abe (Tyler Lofton), wants to volunteer for guard duty, but when a clueless hunter aims his rifle scope in Abe's direction, tragedy results. Then a bureaucrat from the city (Currie Graham) turns up asking for permits and inventories, threatening to return with reinforcements. A showdown is coming, and it will change things forever.
Is It Any Good?
While it ultimately has messages about cooperation and compassion, this faith-based doomsday survival drama hinges on a fairly paranoid worldview. Homestead also feels fragmented, perhaps because it's meant as the pilot for a streaming series. Several characters and storylines are set up in the movie and then don't really go anywhere, presumably to be continued in the series. But even scenes that likely have nothing to do with the series feel out of step. So, in essence, the movie doesn't really work as a stand-alone feature.
The main characters here—Ian Ross and his wife and the Eriksson family—raise questions that aren't addressed. Why has Ian built this entire fortress, and why does he only let in military types? He seems like a good guy, and he has faith that they won't be abandoned there, so what's his goal? Then there's Jeff, who seems to have been planning for this his whole life (he's almost excited when he hears the news). The movie treats him as a hero, but he's clearly dealing with some issues (he barks at his family like a cruel drill instructor). Ultimately, it's Jenna who comes through, insisting that "there's life, and there's life worth living." She discovers a new level of cooperation that benefits everyone. Homestead will likely please the audience it's aimed at, but for others, it could be a puzzlement.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Homestead's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
What is survivalism? How does the movie explain this strategy? What does the movie omit?
How do characters demonstrate teamwork and cooperation? What about compassion?
What role do women play in the story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : December 20, 2024
- On DVD or streaming : January 30, 2025
- Cast : Dawn Olivieri , Neal McDonough , Bailey Chase
- Director : Ben Smallbone
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Angel Studios
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 112 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some violence and thematic elements
- Last updated : March 30, 2025
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