All the way from Sweden to the Overlook Film Festival comes a haunting film called The Home. Directed by Mattias Johansson Skoglund (Deg, Losers), who also wrote the screenplay with Mats Strandberg, The Home tells the story of Joel. While his mother is struggling with dementia and recovering from a fall, Joel returns home to move her into a care facility and to prepare her house for sale. Then, strange supernatural occurrences begin to make the transition more difficult, even threatening the lives of Joel and his mother.

The story told in The Home is layered, covering different themes, as it weaves ghostly happenings in a deeply human drama. Joel is the younger of two adult sons. Since he is viewed as the less-successful of the two, his brother running his own company and being married with children, it’s left to Joel to return home and sort out their mother’s affairs. He hasn’t been around his mom much since her dementia began, so when his mother mentions needing to stay home for her long deceased husband, he simply assumes it’s her ailing mind. Yet the longer he stays home, the more he begins to realize the father, who abused his wife and children in life, has returned to continue their torment in death.

The film is certainly a slow burn, punctuated by shocking moments of terror, but the story cuts to the bone with the way it examines its themes. One of those themes is the lasting trauma of emotional and physical abuse. Even years after his death, Joel and his mother still carry the harm that man caused, impacting every facet of their lives. Another major theme is the loss of self with age. Joel’s mother is often barely recognizable as the loving woman who raised him. Not only is she forgetful, but at times she seems to be a completely different, cruel person. In both of these cases, the ghostly elements act as a metaphor for, and intensify, the themes of trauma and aging. If there were any areas that might leave viewers wanting something more, it would be the pacing and the ending. The film leans more into the dramatic elements, which means it doesn’t have the quickness horror fans may prefer. The ending also leaves some unanswered questions, albeit ones most will likely be able to overlook.

Audiences are treated to two brilliant performances in The Home. The first is Philip Oros (Deg, Dogborn) as Joel. At first, Joel comes across as a bit of a loser. As the plot progresses, Oros reveals the hidden layers of the character. He’s sweet, caring, and he loves his mother. His performance shows that Joel’s hardened exterior is simply a result of his traumatic childhood, but he’s the one his loved ones can depend on when it matters most. Anki Lidén (Glowing Stars, Irene Huss) plays Joel’s mother, Monika. Lidén’s performance is as heartbreaking as it is disturbing. There is so much confusion and sadness to her portrayal of Monika, but in the more sinister moments Lidén seems to transform into a completely different person. One who enjoys causing emotional and physical pain. Both Oros and Lidén are fantastic in their roles, leading to a number of gut-wrenching scenes between the two of them.

From the moment The Home begins, audiences are sure to be struck by the gorgeous cinematography. It beautifully showcases the locations throughout the film, while also adding an unnerving edge to the more sinister scenes. The film features a haunting musical score composed by Tóti Guðnason (Lamb, Azrael). Because The Home is primarily a drama, using horror elements to enhance the plot, the imagery tends to be more understated. There aren’t a lot of big effects, but instead there is subtle ghostly imagery to create a sense of dread, helping to deliver a few well-placed jump scares. All the sights and sounds lend to the constant feeling of dread, creeping into the minds of viewers.

The Home is a compelling tale of trauma and aging with a heart-stopping dose of ghostly dread. The horrors created by Skoglund and Strandberg feel all too real, resulting in a film many are sure to relate to. It’s beautifully brought to life by Oros and Lidén as son and mother, along with great visuals and a wonderful score. While there are sure to be some audiences who will crave for more horror or for a faster pace, it’s undeniable that The Home will leave a lasting impression.

OVERALL RATING: 7.5/10