#Hidden gem: Homewrecker hits Drive-ins and streaming

Homewrecker has arrived at drive-ins and is now available on VOD platforms

These past few months have been a different time for movies with most theaters closed. During this time we have seen drive-in theaters make a comeback and even Walmart plans to turn over 160 of their parking lots into drive-in theaters. It has also been a good time for streaming services since that is the only other way you’re getting new movies. Enter Homewrecker.

Homewrecker is co-written and acted by Alex Essoe (Doctor Sleep) and Precious Chong (Pearl Harbor). Zach Gyne also helped write the film and is the director. For the most part, Essoe and Chong are the only two on-screen so this keeps the film contained and keeps the film incredibly tense. Homewrecker arrived at select drive-ins this past weekend and is available on DVD and streaming as of today.

What is Homewrecker about?

Precious Chong plays Linda, a lonely woman who spends all day taking exercise classes and other activities that allow her to be around other people. Alex Essoe plays Michelle, a millennial woman on the go who crosses paths with Linda at one of these classes.

Their initial encounter is innocent enough. Michelle ends up needing some assistance in the restroom and Linda comes to her rescue. She makes an awkward joke but nothing seems too awry here. Later the two cross paths again at a cafe and Linda forces her way to Michelle’s table despite Michelle clearly not wanting any company. Here we find out that Michelle is an interior designer and Linda invites her over for a consultation on her place.

Homewrecker is wildly entertaining and a great movie for a movie night

From there we are subject to a torturesome experience as Michelle endures Linda’s awkwardness in an effort to be friendly but it’s clear to the viewer that she made a mistake by walking into this house.

Great performances by the leads

Homewrecker takes place primarily in Linda’s house and, again, is almost exclusively focused on our two leading ladies. Precious Chung’s Linda has a manic energy about her that makes you afraid to take your eyes off of her. I don’t know how she maintained that energy throughout the film but her demeanor is a constant source of anxiety. Everything she’s saying seems innocent but her demeanor lets you know there’s something sinister brewing.

When Michelle’s patience wears thin, her demeanor barely changes but her actions change dramatically. From there Michelle, who up to this point was just a normal girl being too nice for her own good, moves into survival mode. Alex Essoe expressed this change in her character brilliantly and you find yourself almost wanting to physically fight with Michelle to get out of the house.

Unpredictable

While you spend the entire movie knowing something isn’t quite right you never know what is going to happen next. We know Linda is crazy but we don’t know how crazy she is. We know that something bad is going to happen but we don’t know what it is or what Linda’s motives are. As the movie unfolds they even toy with us on what Linda actually wants from Michelle.

It’s that uncertainty on top of the brilliant performance from Chong that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Even when you think you have it figured out there is a twist waiting for you around the next corner. Sometimes literally.

Worth the watch

After watching Homewrecker I can confirm that this movie is wildly entertaining and a great movie night movie. It is a horror comedy but it is funny in an uneasy way. Some of the things that Linda does are so crazy that you have to laugh out loud at the brazenness of her approach. I appreciated that the humor wasn’t too much to take away from the sinister happenings.

One of my litmus tests for horror movies is how many decisions the characters make that make me roll my eyes and I honestly can’t think of any in this film. The only situations that come close are ones where you want Michelle to do something but it’s based on our being able to see things that she can’t from her perspective. The physical battles are as fun as the mental ones and the ending does not go quite as expected.

Homewrecker is available at select drive-ins nationwide and is available on most VOD platforms!