"A Faith-Based Home Run"

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What You Need To Know:
The first two episodes of HOMESTEAD are a brilliant “faith-based” spin on the “post-apocalypse” genre. The episodes feature top notch performances, writing, editing, and cinematography. They also deliver a strong Christian, moral worldview supporting family, prayer and perseverance in dark times. Jeff and his wife lead the community with perseverance and compassion, despite the circumstances. Moreover, there’s earnest discussion about PTSD, people’s declining mental health, and being able to forgive one’s enemies. However, the series features intense peril, violent shootouts and chaos. As a result, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for teenagers and sensitive adults.
Content:
More Detail:
HOMESTEAD: THE SERIES is a direct continuation of HOMESTEAD, a post-apocalyptic action movie created by Angel Studios. Following the societal collapse of the United States, a small Los Angeles militia sets up a self-sustaining sanctuary, the “Homestead.” One day, a group of scavengers invade the enclave for supplies. Jeff Eriksson (Bailey Chase). the battle-hardened sheriff of the Homestead, declares war on the scavengers. Meanwhile, Jeff’s community begins to disintegrate into despair and chaos. Will the community of Homestead be able to hold it together?
The series takes place weeks after the harrowing climax of the HOMESTEAD movie. For viewers who missed the movie, MOVIEGUIDE(R) recommends them to read our previous coverage on HOMESTEAD. That article provides the necessary context to understand this series. Also, this review contains FULL SPOILERS for episodes one and two.
In episode one, “The Wolves Circle”, a group of scavengers trespass the Homestead for food and supplies. They assault Georgie, Jeff Eriksson’s adopted daughter, in the process. Enraged, Jeff urges his Homestead soldiers to openly declare war on these aggressors. Meanwhile, Jenna Ross, a close ally to Jeff, welcomes a pregnant therapist to assist with the declining mental health of the community. At the same time, Abe Eriksson, Jeff’s adopted teenage son, begins dating Claire Ross behind his back. Will the community be able to hold the peace?
Episode One is a solid start. The acting is phenomenal, the characters are complex, and the worldbuilding of a war-torn America is incredible. In terms of production quality, this series is a home run. The lighting, the hand-held shaky camera footage, and the landscape shots are amazing. The episode presents \a real sense of “place,” given the franchise takes place within mountainous regions of California.
Episode One has some objectionable material. The Homestead soldiers and other scavengers engage in violent gunfights. Men and women shoot firearms at one another. A man’s corpse is shown with full blood. A man skins a dead animal and uses its body to poison a river. There’s no swearing or stabbings, but the action scenes are not for the faint of heart.
In Episode Two, “The Serpent Strikes,” the scavengers launch another attack on the Homestead. The scavengers are repulsed, but the defenders lose four men in combat. Cain, a hard-boiled marksman of the community, challenges Jeff as leader. Cain and his allies believe that Jeff’s unhinged and traumatic outbursts are a threat to everyone’s survival. Meanwhile, Jenna and the pregnant therapist begin to process the loss of their friends. On top of that, Abe breaks up with Claire and prays to God for advice. Will Jeff and his family succumb to tragedy?
Both episodes feature a strong Christian, moral worldview with strong patriotic values. The characters in the Homestead value the importance of family, protecting their neighbors and openly praying to God in times of crisis. Jeff and his wife lead the Homestead community with perseverance and compassion, despite the circumstances. The side characters discuss the importance of grief, trying to raise morale to their troops, and the responsibility of handling their firearms.
The most compelling aspect of this series is its compelling religious commentary. Jeff, Abe and Jenna debate whether God is looking out for them in these trying times. Abe tries to seduce Claire into eloping with him, but Claire rejects his offer and chooses chastity. Later, Abe prays to God, gets a vision and vows to be a more “mature” man for Claire. In another scene, a pregnant therapist admits she “doesn’t believe in God” but urges her friends to seek His guidance to keep them hopeful. Lastly, the show directly taps into the mental struggles of the cast. It doesn’t “sugarcoat” their desperation. As such, it makes the setting feel much more grounded and authentic.
HOMESTEAD: THE SERIES is a brilliant “faith-based” spin on the “post-apocalypse” genre. The first two episodes feature top notch performances, writing, and cinematography. The episodes deliver a strong Christian, moral worldview about family, prayer and perseverance in dark times. Moreover, there’s an earnest discussion about PTSD, people’s declining mental health, and being able to forgive one’s enemies. However, the series features intense peril, violent gun shootouts and chaos. As a result, MOVIEGUIDE® advises caution for teenagers and sensitive adults.