Introducing the new show Homestead: Angel Studios was eager to launch another serialized drama series for its platform after the success of the popular series The Chosen. Homestead's feature-length first episode will be released this holiday season in theaters. Angel Studios hopes to use the theatrical exposure to help the series reach a wider audience like The Chosen.
Homestead is set on the property of a wealthy American farmer who hires a former military mercenary to fortify his property into a sanctuary in the wake of a nuclear attack on the United States. The series is an apocalyptic drama and a story of Christians coming together as a community. The initial first episode has a gripping opening sequence. But the pacing throughout the rest of the movie/episode reminds you that this is merely the opening chapter of a longer story.
I'm interested in seeing where the story takes these characters. The premise of a group forming a homestead to survive the nuclear apocalypse is compelling. The show touches on more complicated questions, such as who gets to be a part of the community and what measures are justified in keeping some out.
The show also gestures to some of the more practical aspects of being an autonomous community amid a nuclear apocalypse. In this first episode, the arc to these questions feels too choreographed. There is a lot of meaty drama to be had in digging deeper into these questions. But the answers provided felt a bit on-the-nose and routine. Hopefully, subsequent episodes will challenge these questions in more surprising ways.
Performance-wise, actor Neal McDonough is the most affecting as the lead character. Lesser-known actors populate the rest of the cast. The acting is solid, for the most part. However, with the standard set by fellow Angels Studio production, The Chosen, I think a standout hasn’t yet emerged to elevate this material to the next level.
I appreciate the producers minimizing the adult content. Given such an intriguing premise, one could easily imagine the series descending into a festival of raunch and debauchery in the hands of Netflix or HBO. At the same time, the nuclear apocalypse is not the program you sit down with your five-year-old. The series could risk the stakes feeling low if the subsequent episodes stick too close to the safety nets. The first episode has a mid-credits scene that adds some needed intrigue to the plot. I, for one, will stick around to see how it unfolds. There’s a lot of potential here that needs to be properly tapped. Homestead walks a fine line; it could evolve into something compelling with the right balance of tension and restraint.
J.J. Francesco is a longtime contributor to the NRT Staff. He's published the novel 'Because of Austin' and regularly seeks new ways to engage faith, life, and community. His new novel, 'When Miracles Can Dream,' is out NOW!
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