Directed by Jeff Fisher and written by Chris Sivertson, based on the bestselling novel by Adele Parks. A handsome stranger’s claim that a couple’s 15-year-old daughter was switched at birth throws their perfect family into turmoil, unearthing shattering secrets. Starring: Sophia Bush, Chris Carmack, Chris Johnson, Amiah Miller, Austin Woods, Grace Aiello Antczak, Briana Price and Charlotte Hemmings.
Undeniably, for anyone, primarily women, who grew up as a teen in the 2000s, you’re going to be drawn to a film that features stars of both One Tree Hill and The OC, it’s like a late in the day crossover. If you are one of those people, The Stranger in My Home is automatically worth watching because the tone and style feel very much of that style of scandal, drama and secrets. Even more so because Sophia Bush is great as always, she has a fairly unique talent for bringing sincerity where it isn’t always found. She adds a lot of genuine emotion and really provides an anchor for The Stranger in My Home.
Chris Carmack then adds in a lot of the tension and suspicion, he automatically has that slight untrustworthiness and creepiness that comes with being far too nice and generous. The two make a good pair for a complicated new friendship. Chris Johnson is another good addition, he does fill quite a typical role of husband, but he does it well. Whereas things then take a turn with Amiah Miller, who ultimately ticks all the clichéd, unfortunate boxes that people might judge The Stranger in My Home for, before they’ve even seen it. It’s a very loud, fairly forced performance that isn’t particularly enjoyable to watch, leaving her character not a lot of room for sympathy.
The style of The Stranger in My Home fully embraces its crime fiction roots, it feels like it wants to literally translate every element of that, even the design of the book, into the film. It’s very committed, not everything works and some things, like the opening credits can feel unnecessary or elbowed in. However, it clearly understands its audience as this is strongly targeted at the many women who will devour authors like Adele Parks and in that sense, it gets the job done. It may be right on the nose and tends to throw in the odd stiff comeback line and stray into the overtly emotional, but it is entertaining nonetheless.
The Stranger in My Home is made for people who love to read crime fiction novels, particularly those about married couples and decades old secrets. The style is exactly what you’d expect with fairly mixed results, but it does work. Sophia Bush is really the driving factor to what keeps you glued in, she’s relatable and vulnerable yet strong as Ali. It’s a millennial’s pleasure to see her alongside Chris Carmack and while you might know where it’s going, it’s still an enjoyable ride.
FilmCarnage.com 