HOMEBOUND is a short dramatic thriller directed and written by Usher Morgan and tells the story of a woman beset by agoraphobia who is forced to leave her home in search of her therapy dog.

Jamie Rockwell (played by Katie Vincent, who is also the producer of the film) is presented as a very well-rounded person. The director takes some time showing the viewer their apartment, the books they enjoy reading, and makes an effort to show the meaning that the lost dog has to this person, allowing us to empathize with their situation.

It does appear that Morgan did some research into agoraphobia in writing and filming this movie, showing several of the coping mechanisms Jamie uses to confront and allay her anxiety.

Her therapist, Dr. David Ackerman (played by Sebastian Arcelus) was the catalyst of her getting the dog in first place, and later breaching their doctor/patient trust by making an advance on her. The dog is meant to be something to create a bond of trust with Jamie, and he broke that same kind of trust with his behavior.

Katie’s anxiety episodes are rough to watch, because they feel like and seem real. Katie Vincent goes the extra mile to create the sensation of a person that is just collapsing on the inside because of their condition.

The film takes a bit of a surreal turn around the ten-minute mark where the imagery becomes a little more dream-like as she gathers her courage to face the challenge of hanging her “Missing Therapy Dog” posters out in the world.

The movie goes a little long for a short, but the Katie’s portrayal of Jamie is both a pleasure and heart wrenching to watch. The second scene with the therapist really didn’t need to be included, and only served to hurt the protagonist unnecessarily. 

The soundtrack and design were fantastic, adding weight to each scene. The little details like the heavy steel apartment door that you only ever see in big buildings in large cities visually added a layer of security to Katie’s character as well as a physical obstacle that needed to be overcome.