{"id":1862,"date":"2019-07-08T10:34:04","date_gmt":"2019-07-08T08:34:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-welcome-home\/"},"modified":"2025-06-16T19:18:55","modified_gmt":"2025-06-16T17:18:55","slug":"review-welcome-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-welcome-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: Welcome Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Bryan (Aaron Paul)<\/strong> and Cassie (Emily Ratajkowski)<\/strong> embark on a trip to Italy, residing in a spacious and picturesque villa. Complete with access to a fully stocked wine cellar, their escape initially appears idyllic. However, beneath the surface, Bryan’s jealousy simmers. The arrival of their charming and attractive neighbor, Federico (Riccardo Scarmarcio)<\/strong>, exacerbates existing tensions, rapidly revealing that the seemingly perfect setting conceals underlying complexities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aaron Paul<\/strong> achieved prominence through his role in the critically acclaimed TV series Breaking Bad<\/a><\/strong>. While one might expect such a breakthrough to lead to significant film roles, his career has largely consisted of appearances in smaller productions (with the possible exceptions of Need for Speed<\/strong> and the forthcoming Breaking Bad<\/strong> movie). This is somewhat unfortunate, as Paul is a capable actor. Although initially perceived as somewhat stiff, this aligns with his character’s intended portrayal. His on-screen dynamic with Emily Ratajkowski is adequate, and Ratajkowski, whose resume includes a supporting role in Gone Girl<\/strong> and various smaller films, competently carries the lead in this feature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, Riccardo Scarmarcio<\/strong> delivers the film’s standout performance as the neighbor, Federico. He embodies a truly elusive character, exhibiting a compelling ambiguity. Without Scarmarcio’s nuanced performance, the film would likely be easily forgettable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Welcome Home<\/em> employs a familiar narrative: a couple retreats to a remote location in an attempt to salvage their relationship, only to encounter unforeseen challenges. The film incorporates many of the genre’s established tropes. A notable weakness lies in its reliance on contrived plot elements and characters whose actions strain plausibility. The narrative depends too heavily on a series of improbable coincidences. Despite these shortcomings, Welcome Home<\/em> offers some unexpected twists towards its conclusion, providing some unanticipated developments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blu-ray<\/strong> edition provides acceptable picture quality, although a degree of softness was noticeable. The color palette is well-rendered, enhancing the visual appeal of the film’s stunning settings. The DTS-HD<\/strong> audio is satisfactory, with Bear McCreary<\/strong>‘s score standing out as a particular highlight (he also contributed to the game music for the God of War<\/a><\/strong> reboot<\/a>). Regrettably, the Blu-ray edition is severely lacking in supplemental material, a significant drawback.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, Welcome Home<\/em> is a serviceable thriller, incorporating both novel elements and familiar tropes. It offers a reasonably entertaining experience, suitable for a single viewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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