HOMECOMING
US, 2009, 88 minutes. Colour.
Mischa Barton, Matt Long, Jessica Stroup, Michael Landes.
Directed by Morgan J. Freeman.
Homecoming offers familiar material: a jilted woman encounters her former boyfriend’s girlfriend, accidentally injures her and decides to keep her prisoner in her house, meanwhile making advances towards her ex.
The film will remind many audiences of Misery as the jilted young woman tortures her victim. However, it is presented more in PG fashion than for a more serious rating. The film also has echoes of such films as Fatal Attraction.
Mischa Barton showed great talent in her early years in such films as Lawn Dogs. After a stint on TV in OC, she appeared in many films, opting for smaller-budget dramas and horror films like this one. Matt Long is the hero. Jessica Stroup does quite a good job as the victim. Michael Landes appears as the hero’s cousin.
The tension of the film is in the treatment of the two women and their encounters, the attempt of the victim to escape, the pressures applied by the victimiser. There is also a build-up to the climax and the confrontation with inevitable results.
1. The appeal of this kind of drama? Fatal Attraction story – with the younger characters? The overtones of Misery?
2. The small American towns? Homes, bowling alleys, schools? The ordinariness of the situations? The horror drama within this context? The musical score?
3. The introduction to Mike, the background of his relationship with Shelby? The collage of images? His success as a football player? The career at school, Shelby by his side? His moving away to college, breaking up with Shelby? His relationship with Elizabeth? The setting of the story? His going home, the Homecoming weekend, his receiving the football honour from his school? Elizabeth going with him, to meet his parents?
4. The character of Elizabeth, her devotion to Mike? Their comfortable attitudes in being together? The caution about Shelby? The arrival in town?
5. The encounter with Shelby, going for the drink, the bowling alley? Shelby and her reaction, coming on strongly to Mike? His resistance? Her tantalising Elizabeth? The tequila, getting her drunk?
6. Elizabeth and her drinking, not wanting to meet Mike’s parents? Billy and his intervention? Dropping her at the motel, there being no vacancies, her walking along the road?
7. The opening of the film with Shelby driving, the accident? Taking it up later, Elizabeth and her being hit? Shelby taking her to her home? Looking after her, having all the equipment because of her sick mother? The drip, the tablets, the injections?
8. The Misery situation: Elizabeth, helpless, her attempts to get out of the room, finding Shelby’s room and the shrine to Mike? Trying to phone? Shelby returning, her violence, confining Elizabeth to the room? Her motivations?
9. Shelby, going to meet Mike, the seductive behaviour? His drinking, resistance? Her being frustrated?
10. Shelby and her situation with the bowling alley, the money, going to the bank, the interviews? The manager coming to her house, Elizabeth trying to get his attention?
11. Mike and Billy, going fishing? The puzzle about Elizabeth’s disappearance? The phone calls and the text messages? Mike at home with his mother, his father? Shelby and arriving with the jacket? His going to the ceremony? Putting on the jacket – and suddenly discovering Elizabeth’s initials, his rushing to save her?
12. Billy, his concern, telling Mike off? Going to the house, hearing the noise, Shelby killing him? Elizabeth, her being tied up, in the basement? The threats?
13. Mike, running to the house, the confrontation, Shelby with the gun? Mike attacking her, her being shot? Mike and Elizabeth’s escape? Shelby opening her eyes – a sequel or not?
