Untitled Home Invasion Romance is sharp, witty, and a lot of fun. It’s a mystery that, though predictable at times, is filled with twists and turns.
I walked into Untitled Home Invasion Romance expecting a standard-issue romantic comedy with a dark twist. You know the drill: a bumbling husband tries a grand gesture, things go slightly awry, they learn a lesson about communication, and roll credits. But I quickly realized I was very, very wrong. What starts as a misguided attempt at marital CPR evolves into a sharp, chaotic, and genuinely surprising thriller that kept me guessing long after I thought I had the plot hit its high point.
The setup is delightfully cringey. Kevin (Jason Biggs) is a man desperate to save his marriage to Suzie (Meaghan Rath). His solution? A romantic getaway punctuated by a staged break-in where he can save the day and reclaim his status as her hero. It is, by all accounts, a wildly misguided plan. However, the film hits its stride when the play-acting ends and real blood starts to spill. When a body turns up, the movie shifts gears from a comedy of errors into a very unexpected hunt for the truth.
I have to give credit where it’s due: Jason Biggs pulls double duty here as both the lead and the director. Usually, when actors wear too many hats, at least one of them falters, but he maintains a tight grip on the pacing and nails it in front of the camera. He’s great as the panicked, well-meaning, but fundamentally flawed Kevin.
That said, the real revelation for me was Meaghan Rath. I hadn’t seen much of her work before this, but she absolutely stole the show for me. Her performance, particularly in the third act, is a masterclass in shifting tone. She anchors the emotional weight of the film while keeping up with the breakneck speed of the plot twists. I refuse to give spoilers, but I can’t imagine anyone having an issue with her performance.
The supporting cast is equally stacked. Anna Konkle is a fantastic addition; her chemistry with Rath feels authentic and provides some of the film’s best moments. They had me remembering my childhood friends, and wanting to reconnect with them.
Then there’s Justin Min, who is a personal favorite. He plays his character a bit over the top, but in the context of this spiraling madness, it works perfectly. He leans into the absurdity of the situation in a way that feels intentional and hilarious.
While there are a few key moments that seasoned thriller fans might see coming, the movie throws enough curveballs to keep the audience on their toes. There were several reveals that quite literally left my jaw on the floor.
As with many films, the third act is where Untitled Home Invasion Romance truly shines. It becomes a bit of a whirlwind – there’s almost too much going on at times – but strangely, it never feels confusing. Instead, the controlled chaos of the climax sent my heart rate skyrocketing. I found myself leaning forward, genuinely anxious to see how things would play out.
As a fan of horror, I’ll be honest: I felt the movie could have pushed the envelope a bit more with the blood and gore. It stays relatively safe, likely to keep from alienating the Rom-Com side of its audience. While I personally would have loved a messier crime scene, I think the level of violence is perfectly acceptable (and perhaps even preferable) for the average moviegoer who isn’t looking for a slasher flick.
Overall Thoughts On Untitled Home Invasion Romance
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is sharp, witty, and an absolute blast to watch. It successfully subverts the tropes of the husband-in-the-doghouse genre and replaces them with unexpected high stakes. It’s a testament to the fact that sometimes, the most dangerous thing in a marriage isn’t the lack of romance, it’s the lengths we’ll go to to fake it.
About Untitled Home Invasion Romance
With his marriage on the rocks, Kevin (Jason Biggs) whisks his wife Suzie (Meaghan Rath) away on a romantic getaway with a wildly misguided plan: fake a break-in and play the hero. But when things spiral and someone turns up dead, Kevin finds himself at the center of a murder investigation, with lies piling up faster than the alibis.
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is now available on digital.
NEXT: The Gallerist Review: A Completely Captivating Thriller-Comedy
Untitled Home Invasion Romance is sharp, witty, and a lot of fun. It's a mystery that, though predictable at times, is filled with twists and turns.
-
7
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.