Angel Studios’ Homestead lands somewhere between faith-based melodrama and gritty survival thriller, carving out a niche that’s part The Last of Us, part Left Behind. Directed by Ben Smallbone, the film delivers a gripping tale of resilience, faith, and family amid global catastrophe. But be warned: the ending pivots hard into TV pilot territory, leaving some audiences feeling inspired—and others, well, a little sold to.
The Plot: Preppers, Prophecies, and Post-Apocalyptic Chaos
The story kicks off with a nuclear attack launched off the coast of California, throwing the world into turmoil. Enter Ian Ross (Neal McDonough), a wealthy doomsday prepper who’s built the ultimate survival fortress in the Rocky Mountains. His compound, aptly named Homestead, is designed to weather societal collapse, complete with solar panels, gardens, and plenty of canned goods. But Ian’s biggest investment? Hiring Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase), a battle-hardened veteran, to lead a team of security operatives to protect the compound.
From there, Homestead explores the clash between Ian’s faith-driven optimism and Jeff’s survivalist pragmatism, with external threats mounting as desperate outsiders close in. Add a few plot twists—like an adopted child with possible precognitive powers—and you’ve got a recipe for high-stakes drama.
What Works: Strong Performances and a Sense of Scale
Neal McDonough and Bailey Chase deliver standout performances as two men with wildly different approaches to leadership in crisis. McDonough’s Ian is a complex figure, wavering between devout faith and cold calculation, while Chase’s Jeff brings a commanding physical presence and weary cynicism to the screen. Their tension fuels much of the film’s emotional core.
Visually, Homestead punches well above its indie budget. Matthew Rivera’s cinematography captures both the grandeur of the Rocky Mountain setting and the claustrophobia of life under siege. The special effects—though not blockbuster-level—are effective, lending credibility to the large-scale destruction that sets the story in motion.
What Doesn’t Work: The Bait-and-Switch Ending
Let’s address the elephant in the room: the finale. In its last minutes, Homestead pivots from film to TV pitch, complete with a trailer for the upcoming series and a QR code for more information (read: sign-ups). While clever in concept, this move risks alienating audiences who came expecting a self-contained story. CinemaScore polls gave Homestead a B grade—a marked drop from Angel Studios’ usual A-range—and the ending likely contributed to that dip.
Faith Meets Functionality
This is, at its core, a faith-based film, but its messaging avoids heavy-handedness. Dawn Olivieri, as Ian’s wife Jenna, anchors the spiritual themes with a sincere, understated performance. Her faith-driven actions are treated with respect, not caricature, and even skeptics might find her moments of conviction compelling.
One subplot even sneaks in a clever Bible reference, turning a plot twist into an unexpected nod to the “loaves and fishes” miracle. For a film operating in a genre dominated by gritty realism, these moments of hope and divine intervention are a refreshing change of pace.
Final Thoughts: A Mixed Bag with Big Potential
Homestead succeeds where it matters most: creating characters you care about and delivering suspense with surprising production value. But its bait-and-switch ending and dangling plot threads—likely earmarked for the series—will test audience patience.
Angel Studios is clearly aiming for long-term investment in the Homestead universe, and for some, that’s a compelling prospect. For others, it might feel like a pitch they didn’t sign up for. Either way, the film’s ambition is undeniable.
Homestead may not rewrite the rules of post-apocalyptic drama, but it does prove that faith-based cinema can take risks—and occasionally pull them off.
“Follow the money, follow the story.”
