An American thriller based on Revenge, directed by James Bamford. This time, it is the heroine who has set traps all over her house to catch the man who took her daughter’s life.
Some lives are more dramatic than others. The girl already had physical problems and had to walk with crutches… and just as she was getting better, she was kidnapped.
Someone once said to me something like: ‘No matter how much work goes into a film: if it’s boring, it’s boring! There’s nothing you can do about it!!!’ Well, that isn’t necessarily the case with this film, but it could all have been better. It has the feel of a TV film, yet at the same time there are some properly gory moments. And neither camp will be satisfied: too gory for TV film fans and too much like a TV film for gore fans! At the same time, Simone Kessell, the New Zealand lead actress, is known for her television roles.
Hard Home is full of good ideas, but lacks the ingredients to make it a good film. It drags in places and fails to deliver. For once, it’s a ‘good girl’ who has the villain in her clutches and decides to torture him. But, despite her dedication and intelligence, she lets her emotions get the better of her and makes glaring mistakes. This makes certain parts of the film ridiculous. Simone Kessell has the charisma of an actress; she tries her best, but clearly lacks that little something extra that could elevate her to the ranks of the very best. Not according to this film, anyway!
Andrew Howard, for his part, is a Welsh actor who works in theatre, television and film. He really does play a scumbag who goes to great lengths in his despicable acts, carrying himself with a certain pride. He’s terrifying both because of his actions and the sheer malevolence he exudes.
Joseph Millson plays the role of the husband and father who is completely overwhelmed. We don’t see much of him. This isn’t where we’ll see the talent of this man, who is not only an English actor but also a writer, director and singer. His first book, Work and Other Four Letter Words, was published in 2021.
Daphne Cheung plays the annoying neighbour. There’s almost always an annoying neighbour somewhere! Her character brings a touch of humour, despite everything, to this feature film.
Rosie Day’s age seems to be a mystery, as Wikipedia doesn’t (yet) know whether she was born in 1995 or 1996! She plays the girl, the main victim at the heart of this story.
It’s a more or less entertaining watch for people who’ve got nothing better to do and are easy-going; if you’re a discerning viewer, you’d be better off looking for something else to watch. It’s not a film you’d want to watch again. It leaves you feeling a bit empty, a bit frustrated. And the ending suggests there might be a sequel. Meh! Given the success this one’s likely to have, I reckon the project’s already fallen through before it’s even got off the ground! When the beginning starts with the ending, it’s not exactly thrilling.
It’s mad: there’s very little to say about this film! In just a few lines, I’ve already covered all the essentials. It’s not a film you can debate for hours on end, unless you have the time and the passion to dwell on every detail, trivial or otherwise.
2,5
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