Almost Home (2025)

-Written by Kyle Bain.

I have to preface this review by saying that I watched Almost Home over two weeks ago, and, to be honest, I’d forgotten I had watched it. That’s a bad sign; and I think you’ll find that it’s strongly representative of my overall feelings on the film. 

Almost Home is the story of Aamir (Kamal Khan), a military man whose overseas mishaps have haunted him since his return home. Now affecting his wife and children, Aamir must overcome the trauma that follows him, that threatens to tear him apart. 

Films focusing on post-traumatic stress have become a staple in the world of cinema as of late, and Almost Home attempts to insert itself into an ever-growing subgenre of filmmaking. On paper it separates itself from the rest of those films, playing on Aamir’s religion and the role that it plays in his reception at home, back in the states. The narrative will likely invite a group of curious viewers to engage in the film; and it’s quite possible that this aspect of the film is enough to entertain and carry the film forward. I felt that this was a nice change of pace for the genre, but not near enough to save it from mediocrity. 

Just about every other aspect of this production struggles to work, struggles to appeal to viewers. The acting is subpar, the quality of the production is minimalistic, and the pacing/structure leaves a lot to be desired. It’s clear that Almost Home suffers from a low budget, using what was readily available in terms of set design--and something about that can be charming, but this aspect becomes more challenging to accept and appreciate as the mediocrity is compounded and exacerbated by the failures in other arenas. Khan fails to fill the screen, fails to perform in a way that is moving or visceral. His performance is flat, and he’s surrounded by others that provide uncomfortably similar performances. There’s a lack of urgency present in their acting, and it steals from the intended impact that Khan (also the writer) and Director Menhaj Huda hoped to have on their audience. 

As previously mentioned, Khan is ineffective when it comes to filling the screen and being the powerful presence that Almost Home needs in order to find success. Part of that failure, however, stems from the cinematography. Director of Photography Thomas M. Harting struggles to frame characters appropriately, struggles to invite viewers into Almost Home nearly every step of the way. The lack of immersion takes viewers out of the film (naturally), creating something of a separation between the two entities, a space that is never filled and continues to widen as the film drives forward, hindering the film as a whole. 

Almost Home fails in a number of ways, but its greatest issue is the fact that it is incapable of developing emotion. I never once felt an emotional connection to any character in the film, nor did I find the overall delivery compelling enough to be drawn into the narrative. While there’s something relevant and appealing about the narrative, each and every other aspect of the film fails to deliver, ultimately overshadowing the film’s potential. Almost Home greatly misses the mark, leaving much to be desired and a bad taste in viewers’ mouths. 

Directed by Menhaj Huda. 

Written by Kamal Khan. 

Starring Kamal Khan, Erica Ibsen, Ryaan Kamal Khan, Aleena Khan, etc. 

4/10 = WORTH THE RISK, BUT YOU’VE BEEN WARNED