James DeMonaco returns to the horror genre with his latest film, The Home, starring Pete Davidson. Set in a quiet retirement community, the movie follows a graffiti artist who uncovers a dark secret, combining suspense with subtle sociopolitical commentary. The film debuts in theaters on July 25.
Premise and Plot Unfolding in a Creepy Retirement Setting
The Home features Pete Davidson portraying a young artist sentenced to community service at an eerie retirement home, where he soon suspects something sinister. According to DeMonaco,
“While there, he begins to suspect that something strange is going on. He discovers a sinister plot at the center of this very creepy home.”
This setting forms the backbone of a story that blends psychological horror with a metaphorical reflection of current global issues, entwining individual trauma with broader societal concerns.
From The Purge to A More Subtle Form of Social Commentary
Known for creating The Purge franchise, DeMonaco integrates social themes throughout his works but adopts a more restrained approach in The Home. He reflects on his earlier style, saying,
“I think I’ve crossed the line into preaching in the Purge movies. I’ve let my emotions get the better of me, and I didn’t want to do that here. I wanted it to be subtle. I don’t think people want to be preached to. I think you can present some ideas and let people think about it for themselves.”
This balance between storytelling and message delivery was carefully maintained through editing to avoid overt proselytizing:
“It’s an interesting process, because you don’t want to overdo it. You don’t want to proselytize, so editing becomes quite important in gauging on if you’ve gone too far and if we can do it in a way where we’re presenting and letting people make their own judgments at the end of the day.”
The Home as a Climate Change Allegory
The film serves as a metaphor for the planet’s environmental crisis, paralleling the characters’ experiences with humanity’s impact on Earth. DeMonaco explains,
“a great metaphor for climate change and what’s happening to the planet.”
He elaborates on the inspiration, saying,
“You know, we’re mining this planet. We’re taking the resources away. It’s something I’m paying attention to now that I have a daughter. You start thinking of the future, what previous generations have done to the planet, what we’re leaving with the next generation.”
The script’s development revealed this symbolic layer, with the filmmaker adding,
“As we were developing the script, we started to see this metaphor. What’s happening to certain characters in the movie kind of mirrors what’s happening to the planet and what previous generations have done to this generation. And so we said, ‘Let’s do it, but let’s do it in a subtle way.’”
Origins of The Home During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The concept for The Home was born amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic while DeMonaco collaborated with co-writer Adam Cantor. The pandemic’s impact on elder care facilities, especially in New York, provided a poignant backdrop, as DeMonaco recounts,
“Elder care facilities were in the news a lot here in New York, because there was a lot of mishandling of the virus response inside them.”
Both writers had personal connections to elder care, recalling,
“Adam and I were speaking about them. We both had strange experiences when we were young with family members who were in these facilities. The elder care world is sad, somewhat creepy. All these weird emotions come with it simultaneously.”
Influences from Longevity Trends and Personal Reflections
During the pandemic, DeMonaco’s exploration of longevity content through online videos influenced the film’s thematic direction. Initially skeptical, he remarks,
“I thought it was a weird little fad, but I learned it was more than a fad. It was this huge surge of these longevity experts teaching you how you can live to 120. If you really go down the rabbit hole, it’s creepy stuff.”
The confluence of pandemic anxiety, elder care concerns, longevity obsessions, and climate awareness shaped the psychological horror element in The Home, as he states,
“The elder care stuff that was in the news at the time, coupled with what I was discovering about this obsession with longevity, and then my own thoughts on climate change all kind of coalesced into the psychological horror of The Home.”
Choosing Pete Davidson as the Lead Reflects Personal and Professional Ties
DeMonaco and Cantor envisioned Pete Davidson for the main role early in the writing process. A fellow Staten Island native, Davidson’s history with DeMonaco dates back to when Davidson approached him as a young man, sharing his acting ambitions. DeMonaco recalls,
“He came over to me after the first Purge. He was like, ‘Oh, I heard you’re the guy who wrote The Purge. I’m a big fan. I want to be an actor.’ He was a great, very soulful young man who experienced a lot of hard stuff in life.”
The two bonded over shared interests in film and horror, resulting in an ongoing collaboration. DeMonaco mentions a joint project,
“It’s kind of an action-comedy. It’s got some drama, though it’s violent. Pete would star. We’re going to jump back into that in September, which we’re really excited about.”
Alignment Between Character and Actor Enhances Performances
DeMonaco emphasizes a connection between Davidson’s personal experiences and the character of Max, saying,
“In a weird way, Max is dealing with grief and trauma in his youth and so is Pete. We thought there was a parallel, and I just knew Pete could do drama. He did a little bit in The King of Staten Island and Big Time Adolescence, but I knew him as a human, and I knew he was a good actor who could do anything.”
Initial studio skepticism about casting Davidson was dispelled after reviewing footage:
“We pitched him to the studio. They seemed to be into it. They had some reservations at first, but as soon as they got the first dailies they were like, ‘Wow! He can handle it.’ We paired him with this cast of amazing theater actors from New York, and he effortlessly started playing with them. I just love the guy. It was a great experience to work with him.”
Multiple Twists Keep Audiences Engaged Until the End
The Home is crafted to surprise viewers repeatedly, with DeMonaco and Cantor carefully planning the screenplay to deliver unexpected turns. He explains,
“That was premeditated in the writing of it with Adam and I. We wanted to take people down this path and then smash them in the face a couple of times with nice twists. I think that’s a great way to watch a movie.”
Ensuring the climax outshines earlier surprises was a deliberate goal:
“Often in movies that are fooling the audience, I feel like the payoff is not as good as what has come before it, so we really wanted to make sure that the third act one-upped what we thought was happening. It took a lot of time to plan with the script.”
The Final 25 Minutes Deliver Intense and Visceral Horror
DeMonaco highlights the film’s closing segment as his proudest cinematic moment.
“The last 25 minutes is my favorite thing I’ve ever put on film. It’s incredibly visceral, bloody, and fun. I think you’ll be cheering in that last act in a way that I haven’t done in any of my films before,”
he states.
This intense conclusion promises to leave a lasting impression on audiences, marking a distinct evolution in DeMonaco’s filmmaking style.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Does Pete Davidson have a syndrome?
A. When he was 23, Davidson learned he had PTSD and borderline personality disorder (BPD). BPD includes strong emotional swings, impulsiveness, and trouble keeping stable relationships. In September 2017, he told podcast host Marc Maron that it had been the toughest year of his life.
Q. What is Pete Davidson’s chronic illness?
A. The “Saturday Night Live” actor learned he had Crohn’s disease at age 17. Similar to others with Crohn’s, Davidson struggled to eat enough to maintain his weight and energy. “I reached a stage where I couldn’t even get out of bed. My weight dropped to 110 pounds,” Davidson mentioned in an interview with People magazine.
Q. What addiction does Pete Davidson have?
A. Pete Davidson has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and struggles with marijuana addiction.
Q. What was Pete Davidson’s addiction?
A. Davidson openly talked about using marijuana, but not everyone knew his drug issues were more serious. He also dealt with a ketamine addiction, using it every day for four years.
