WELCOME HOME: Underutilization Of Talent & Concept

You’ve probably heard of sites where you can rent a home or an apartment for your vacation (think Airbnb). It’s easy and usually more affordable than the alternative. But how much do you really know about the renter? What if their intentions are dishonest? Or worse, dangerous?

This isn’t The Holiday. It’s a terrifying idea – one that Welcome Home teases you with, but never fully capitalizes on, leaving this trip unfulfilled.

Welcome To The Show

Cassie (Emily Ratajkowski) and Bryan (Aaron Paul) head to Italy to stay in a beautiful countryside home. Ever since her infidelity, their relationship has been suffering, and this vacation is taken as a hope to restart and rekindle things. Despite Cassie’s genuine penitence, Bryan has trouble letting the image go.

When they meet the friendly neighbor Federico (Riccardo Scamarcio) he seems harmless, helpful. Except, he keeps popping up and Bryan is uncomfortable with his attention on Cassie. What are his motives?

It’s introduced early, so it’s not a spoiler to say that Federico isn’t as charming as his smile would have you think. In fact, he is spying on them using a horde of cameras scattered around the home, bringing an eerie turn to our technological, everything is on video-age. He also implants himself everywhere, pulling the strings of their insecurities to pit the couple against one another.

There’s a general unease that director George Ratliff plays with, using strategic shots to remind us that these people are unwilling participants, even making us look over our own shoulders. It is a construct with a looming danger that could potentially be startling, but instead stays hidden too much.

In its final moments, there’s a gasp of a reveal that really shouldn’t be surprising, but still is. However, the period to revel in is too little, too late. When I think of what Welcome Home could have been I consider the hold your breath tension that movies like Mike Flanagan’s Hush brings. That intentional awareness the viewer holds while the characters are oblivious. The prospect of being watched has always been a scary one, but there’s little initiated here.

Welcome To The Relented Suspense

I think my biggest complaint is the script written by David Levinson. Cassie and Bryan don’t have a lot of dialogue that delivers depth, making it hard to root for them. I’m always up for building tension, but Welcome Home could have used more of it. The story slowly climbs to the point where the payoff with these not particularly likable characters doesn’t have the bang they’re hoping for.

There’s more melodrama here than thrill. When a film flips an experience (such as a vacation) on its head,  switching from dream to nightmare, that can be frightening, especially one that infuses reality like this. Which is why Welcome Home is so disappointing. It had a head start, so why did it still come short?

There’s a lot wasted. That’s not to say this film isn’t entertaining, albeit a bit slogging for a while. It can sustain your attention, especially as the story unravels and you’re curious to learn their fates. Riccardo Scamarcio is also enrapturing as the film’s creep. He’s the ideal level of charisma and malice who becomes obsessed with the beautiful Cassie.

Aaron Paul instills sympathy as the heartbroken boyfriend. He’s an actor who has shown tremendous range in shows like Breaking Bad and The Path, as well as movies like Smashed. I believe there’s a leading man here, but the majority of his cinematic feats have been underwhelming (Need for Speed…cringe). Paul dares Welcome Home to give him a platform, but it doesn’t work. Emily Ratajkowski is a vulnerable asset, though she’s somewhat one dimensional as a character. Their relationship isn’t exactly believable, with the chemistry between the two devoid of a spark.

Conclusion: Welcome Home

Good looking people, earnest emotions, not enough suspense. A potential discomforting kernel, bogged down by just…not enough. Welcome Home has a melting pot of possibilities, preying on human fear, but much like Federico, it skulks when it should attack.

What did you think? Do you disagree? Did you enjoy the movie? Let us know in the comments below!

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