PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Real life mental illness can be a horror story all on its own for those who struggle with psychological disorders. Treatment isn’t always available and, when it is, medication can bring on undesirable side effects. The latter is the bane of a single mother’s existence as she strives for a better life in Writer/Director Patrick Cunningham’s directorial debut, Anyone Home? (previously named Model Home).
Hired as a live-in caretaker of an unsold house, Camila (Monique Gabriela Curnen: The Dark Knight 2008) is mesmerized by this place she and her son, Jaime (Luke Ganalon: Bless Me, Altima 2012), will call home. However, the single mother hides a condition from her new employer, Brenda (Kathy Baker: Edward Scissorhands 1990), for fear of losing this opportunity. As her young son dutifully monitors her daily medication, which consists of a handful of pharmaceuticals, it’s clear that Camila struggles with a serious mental illness… just how serious it is, we are about to find out.
Utilizing the vacancy while working a side gig in telecommunications for a home security company, Camila finds herself stumbling over words as her medicated mind has difficulty remembering what to say. With pressure rising and constantly dodging questions from Brenda, Camila stops her medication in hopes of alleviating the unwanted side effects. From here, this single mother enters a downward spiral of mental health deterioration as she frequents a nearby craft store to create a world of delusion as her reality melts away. With his mother losing her sanity, things become more than what Jaime can handle as the neglected child finds himself on his own in this deserted wasteland of suburbia.
Cunningham immediately sets an eerie tone for his feature debut with a desolate landscape full of empty houses and a street that lacks any signs of life. With the exception of a Buffalo Bill-type recluse (Jasper Cole: American Horror Story franchise) living out of a nearby RV, there is clearly not a single soul for miles. Though this seems like the setup to a traditional slasher flick, Cunningham artistically tackles the subject matter of mental health combined with chasing the American Dream. This puts the spotlight almost entirely on Curnen, who gives an outstanding portrayal of a layered character seeking to reach new heights, achievements and opportunities despite the challenges she faces.
From the beginning, Curnen builds sympathy for her character as someone who wants what we all want: a happy and successful life for her and her child. One cannot help but feel for Camila as she struggles to overcome her clouded thoughts and hide her physical tremors to reach a life glamorized in magazines and advertisements. As her character gradually becomes more dangerous as she loses touch with reality, Curnen maintains the delicate balance of likability while unmasking the unnerving side of a neglected mental illness.
Ganalon gives an equally impressive performance as a young boy who carries far too big of a burden for his age solely out of fear. Conveying a sense of loneliness and longing for a life far more simple than his mother’s dream, Jaime shows a certain level of sadness. However, this quiet melancholy turns into suspenseful terror as chaos threatens his safety and well-being.
Infusing a touch of dark humor with some bizarre situations, Anyone Home? offers some WTF moments that would work wonderfully … if the topic material wasn’t so serious. Don’t get me wrong: this humor isn’t in poor taste, nor does it turn mental health into a laughing matter. It doesn’t even work against the film. However, it does take away from the heavy topic of mental health and the materialistic drive in the society in which we live.
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Humor gripes aside, this unique psychological dramatic horror is a fantastic debut by Cunningham. Backed by strong cast performances, Anyone Home? showcases a story with depth. Not only is it a terrifying look into mental illness, but it is also a tale of losing oneself to the social standards of materialism. In lesser words, Anyone Home? is a horrific depiction of the American Dream masking an American Nightmare.
