By MICHAEL GINGOLD
Claustrophobic dread suffuses the feature debut of writer/director Sebastian Godwin.
HOMEBOUND has its world premiere tomorrow, September 25 at Fantastic Fest. Tom Goodman-Hill, Aisling Loftus, Hattie Gotobed, Raffiella Chapman and Lukas Rolfe star; the synopsis: “Holly [Loftus] is excited to finally meet fiancé Richard’s [Goodman-Hill] three children for the first time at a birthday celebration for his youngest. Taking place at his ex-wife’s secluded home in the English countryside, Holly is nervous at the proposition of being a stepmom and eager to make a good impression on the children and his ex. However, when they arrive, circumstances are far from ideal.
“She’s not much older than Richard’s eldest daughter, and the reception she receives from the two teenagers, Lucia [Gotobed] and Ralph [Rolfe], is decidedly frosty. Richard’s ex is nowhere to be found, and the children are reluctant to share any more details about their mom’s whereabouts. Holly and Richard decide to stay until she comes home, with Richard overzealously trying to lighten the mood by taking the kids swimming, throwing a raucous party for his youngest daughter Anna [Chapman], and trying to be the cool, permissive parent who lets his kids get drunk on champagne. But as the days pass with no sign of the children’s mother, the children become more and more hostile to Holly, and her suspicions begin to mount. What at first appeared to be typical teenage angst escalates rapidly, until it is perfectly clear that something is very wrong in this house.”
