Title: Misery The Beginning…oops, I mean Homecoming.

Scores: Technical: 80, Story: 50, Acting: 85, Overall: 65

When Mike (Matt Long) returns to his hometown with his new girlfriend Elizabeth (Jessica Stroup), they are welcomed with open arms from everyone, except for Shelby (Mischa Barton) who still thinks she’s Mike’s true love. When Shelby tries to make a move on Mike, and finds out he has another girlfriend – she snaps. Shelby hits Elizabeth with a car one night, and holds her hostage in her home while trying to work her way back into Mike’s life.

Why do I call it Stephen King’s: Misery the Beginning? Sure, the movie has it’s differences; the “jilted lover” instead of the “number 1 fan”, a younger cast, um… I guess that’s it. The similarities are too numerous to ignore; a car mishap puts the victim in a wounded state, and then is nursed back to health, only to be tortured. Don’t forget the single, lonely girl/woman who lives on a secluded farm and the cop who starts nosing around in the basement.

Like I said, Misery for the new generation.

OK, so here is my official review of Homecoming: If you have seen Misery, don’t waste your time, you will know exactly what’s going to happen at every turn. Now, if you have not seen Misery go ahead and watch it. It is a pretty good movie with fairly good acting, good suspense, and an interesting (not very original) plot and storyline. But, it is really an entertaining drama/thriller.

By Dave Minyard