Homewrecker (2019) Review – A Cringeworthy and Dull Comedy Horror

Welcome to Knockout Horror. Today we are reviewing the comedy horror Homewrecker (2019).

Character driven horror comedy

Homewrecker is a comedy horror directed and co-written by Zach Gayne. It follows the story of Michelle (Alex Essoe), a woman who just so happens to develop a friendship with the rather strange and rather eccentric Linda (Precious Chong). Agreeing to accompany Linda on a visit to her house, Michelle has absolutely no idea what a bizarre and horrifying time she is in for.

“An awkward tension permeates the entire film with Michelle’s attempts to pacify Linda leading her deeper and deeper into an uncomfortable social situation.”

Homewrecker is a fairly character driven comedy horror movie. We have the extremely passive Michelle and the outgoing, oddly behaved, Linda. The movie places these two into a somewhat claustrophobic situation where their contrasting personalities can form the basis of much of the comedy. An awkward tension permeates the entire film with Michelle’s attempts to pacify Linda leading her deeper and deeper into an uncomfortable social situation.

Linda is eccentric and her history hints at a person who is somewhat lonely and just a bit desperate for attention. She complains about her former popularity and laments people’s tendencies to lie. Michelle, on the other hand, is quiet, shy and, obviously, ill at ease with Linda’s extroverted nature. Michelle grits her teeth and accepts Linda’s invite rather than upsetting her.

As the movie goes on, things begin to spiral out of control. Michelle watches a movie with Linda, one of her favourites. Linda is absorbed in every second of 80s classic Girls Just Want to Have Fun; a subtle hint at Linda’s obsession with all things 80s – an era which she appears to be stuck in. Michelle feels sorry for her, clearly. Linda has an almost childlike sense of rejection when Michelle claims she has to leave. When Michelle’s attention turns to her phone, Linda snaps. From there on out it is downhill for Michelle and, unfortunately, for the movie itself.

So many problems

Homewrecker is something of a Generation X version of fantastic Aussie comedy horror The Loved Ones. If you could take the humour of that movie, the absolutely fantastic antagonist, and overall style, slow it down to an “old person walking up stairs” pace and film it on a cheap camcorder, the result would be Homewrecker. This is a movie that falls flat in so many areas and succeeds in so few. As a horror, it is woefully lacking in any scares or tension and, as a comedy, it is painfully try-hard.

“Linda, as a horror movie villain, feels fairly benign. She is well into her 50s, slight of build and slow of movement. Linda does not feel in any way imposing or, even, threatening.”

Linda, as a horror movie villain, feels fairly benign. She is well into her 50s, slight of build and slow of movement. Linda does not feel in any way imposing or, even, threatening. She does not have an accomplice and her only weapon is a large hammer – a hammer that I doubt she could swing with force even if she wanted to. Her methods of entrapping Michelle involve domestic door locks and vague threats but, apparently she has a mean headlock. What she lacks in physical capability she makes up for in screaming.

On the other hand we have Michelle; a much younger and much taller woman. Linda and Michelle fight in what could only be described as slow motion. They roll around on the floor screaming half-heartedly and, somehow, the much younger, and larger, Michelle struggles against the frail looking Linda. This happens multiple times, each time begging the viewer to suspend more and more disbelief. These fight scenes are among the worst I have ever seen.

Really not very funny

That leads into a bigger point with Homewrecker; this movie really isn’t very funny. Homewrecker is one of those films that expects you to laugh because it is farcical. The established scenario is bizarre, Linda is a strange person who is stuck in the past when she was a popular high school student, and the pair form an odd couple. That is the entire basis of the comedy.

Whereas Linda’s childlike demeanour can garner a few laughs here and there, the very deliberate kookiness of the character and location fall flat. Homewrecker doesn’t try to earn its laughs; you are supposed to laugh because the film is weird. That is not enough, there are just so many damn misses, throughout.

“Homewrecker doesn’t try to earn its laughs; you are supposed to laugh because the film is weird. That is not enough, there are just so many damn misses, throughout.”

One scene, in particular, deserves scorn. Linda walks around the house staring into the camera, holding a sex toy up to her mouth like a microphone before singing a horrendous, and humourless, version of Lisa Loeb’s 90s folk pop classic Stay (I Missed You). Aside from this being a weird confusion of the decades of focus here, this whole part is painfully awful. It is a cardinal sin to trash such a brilliant piece of 90s nostalgia like this. Precious Chong looks almost as mortified performing this as I did watching it. This is just a microcosm of the film’s major overriding issues. Homewrecker‘s comedy element falls flat and its aesthetic feels completely forced.

Okay acting and a terrible script

Acting is okay, I suppose. I really enjoyed Alex Essoe’s performance in Starry Eyes. She does an okay job here portraying the meek and quiet Michelle. There’s a nice feeling of authenticity when she comes out of her shell and fights back. Precious Chong, as Linda, really tries her damn best but the role is just not that well written. Linda has a few moments that will make you chuckle but there just isn’t that much for her to work with.

Unfortunately, the script doesn’t give these actors anything to work with. I am quoting verbatim from the movie here in a scene where Michelle realises she has come on her period and doesn’t have any sanitary products with her so asks the other woman. Linda responds “I’m too old to get my period anymore”. Really? Someone penned that and thought it was a well written line? These types of poor English and awful scripting permeate the entire film.

Alex Essoe and Precious Chong are both listed as co-writers so they bear some responsibility here. Did they get Precious’ dad Cheech to produce the horrible guitar scratching soundtrack as well? Judging by how average Homewrecker is, they definitely got Cheech to supply the weed. Something made them believe that this movie was actually funny. It is worth mentioning that Homewrecker is pretty ugly, too. There are a number of weird stylistic choices that don’t land and the claustrophobic house offers limited opportunities for creative shots.

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