PopHorror Let's Get Scared
Will Seefried’s Homesick had just recently its world premiere at SXSW 2022 under the section Narrative Shorts Competition presented by IMDbpPro. When I first selected it to review, I hadn’t noticed it was short, but the shortness of this film made the story all that more unique and thrilling. This short was directed and written by Seefried and produced by Hannes Otto.
Synopsis for Homesick
This is an absurdist thriller about an unhappy man who attends a retreat offering adults a second chance at a happy childhood.
Homesick delivered a unique story that gave me mixed feelings throughout its runtime. I wasn’t sure what a “second chance at a happy childhood” all entailed at first. Do things you didn’t get to do as a child? No responsibilities? Well, it turned out it was a yes to those questions plus more. This retreat literally gives you the opportunity to be a kid again. You’re the same you, no weird transformations, but living your life as a child. On one hand, it felt very creepy. A grown adult basically roleplaying as a kid. It didn’t help that the “parents” made it awkward, almost like they didn’t even want to be participating in this retreat.
On the other hand, I could see this being a great therapeutic thing for those who grew up with rough childhoods or had too grow up to fast. Maybe it works both ways, not just for those who missed out on childhood, but for parents who lost a child or never had the opportunity to have a family.
But at what costs? The short gave you just enough to keep intrigued, asking questions, and wanting more. Although Homesick works brilliantly as a short, I would love to see it as a full feature too. The man’s story. The background behind this treatment. How it works. Overall, I loved I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
