Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Extremely gory horror movie set in a retirement home.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Home
What's the Story?
In THE HOME, troubled Max (Pete Davidson)—grieving the loss of his older foster brother, Luke—breaks into a building and paints graffiti on a wall. His foster father (Victor Williams) arranges to keep Max out of jail with a community service sentence: He must spend four months as the "super" of the Green Meadows Retirement Home. Max is given simple rules to follow, including "don't go up on the fourth floor." He meets a kindred spirit in resident Norma (Mary Beth Peil), who tells him "a heart knows a heart"—but also that "there's something very wrong with this place." Max uses his lock-picking skills to investigate the fourth floor and makes alarming discoveries. That, paired with strange happenings on the floors below, inspires him to launch a full-on investigation, and, possibly, help some people for the first time.
Is It Any Good?
This gory, gruesome horror movie isn't terrible, but it fails to develop Davidson's character and treads through familiar ideas and themes while offering little that's invigorating. When we meet Max in The Home, he's basically an immature delinquent, albeit a talented one (his pessimistic graffiti art is impressive). Then, once he gets to Green Meadows, he seems instantly won over by a "welcome" party in his honor. It's an abrupt change, and even though Davidson seems intent on creating an empathetic character, Max's transformation feels a bit off.
Then, director and co-writer James DeMonaco—who, unfortunately, is the creator of the Purge series—tries his best to dole out and/or keep the story's sinister secrets, but the effort seems mechanical and routine, and it only recalls movies that handled these themes a hundred times better, from The Wicker Man to Get Out—not to mention The Rule of Jenny Pen, a much pricklier, more playful movie also set in a menacing retirement home. Repeating gory nightmare sequences, an excess of gross "eye stuff," and a climax of bloody mayhem don't quite provide the intended jolt that they aspired to, and The Home ultimately leaves off like the lights are on, but no one's there.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about The Home'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?
Is the movie scary? What's the appeal of horror movies? Why do people sometimes enjoy being scared?
What does the movie have to say about aging and how we respond to it?
Does Max learn to show empathy? If so, how?
How is smoking depicted? Is it glamorized? Are there consequences? Why does that matter?
Movie Details
- In theaters : July 25, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : August 26, 2025
- Cast : Pete Davidson , John Glover , Bruce Altman
- Director : James DeMonaco
- Studios : Lionsgate , Roadside Attractions
- Genre : Horror
- Topics : Family Stories
- Run time : 97 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : strong bloody violence and gore, language and some sexual content
- Last updated : September 5, 2025
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