I thought the movie had potential from the description, but I was wrong. One family seems to have no idea how to prepare for problems or protect themselves (one lady dies because she can't leave her phone behind during panicked rioting), one family is run by a weird religious prepper that's at the way other end of the spectrum (this was - unfortunately - more believable that the seemingly helpless black family). They were all irritating & unlikable in some way or another. The movie comes across as naive & amateurish, the ending felt rushed & anticlimactic. The one positive thing I can say is that the acting was good for the most part.
42 Reviews
Ridiculous Plot
alexandriafenwick5 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This movie was so ridiculous. Greg was so "smart" yet obviously he didn't know to strategize to stay alive. I would never ask someone for shelter then be so snarky and rude. Then cause emotional unrest in the home with the pregnant gf. The writers and directors should be ashamed. Winter wasn't a bad guy. He was traumatized and a little strange but he wasn't evil. What happened in the end wasn't fair and I would've kicked Greg out too (not the kid). Speaking of the kid, after the first time going in the pantry, they should have made sure he never went down there again. Sheesh at least know how to play the damn game, read the 48 laws of power or something!
I Tried
nogodnomasters25 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Greg (Derek Luke) and his wife Helen (Erika Alexander) are a married couple who do not get along. Helen is expecting and Greg "tries". When the market crashes and store shelves are bare everyone becomes a marauder. Eventually they end up in their neighbor's shelter where they have a cold welcome.
I liked the bomb shelter in the "Twilight Zone" better. This one was let down as I never thought the world came apart as bad as they pretended.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity. A man and woman shower together from the shoulders up.
I liked the bomb shelter in the "Twilight Zone" better. This one was let down as I never thought the world came apart as bad as they pretended.
Guide: F-word. No sex or nudity. A man and woman shower together from the shoulders up.
Bad acting worse plot
spade1925 February 2022
ABSOLUTE TRASH!
crystalprismheart15 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Despite the cool premise - the complete collapse of America and our financial institutions leading to Martial Law - it doesn't take five minutes to realize nothing can save this disaster of a film.
Absolutely ridiculous plot, to the point of insulting anyone who tries to watch it. While the entire country is in collapse, these idiotic characters drink wine, make jokes, complain about their lives and their neighbors. No depth to any of the characters and ridiculous stereotypes. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Granted we're in a Pandemic, but why is it all we get out of Hollywood these days are remakes of remakes, superhero films and trash like this?!!!
Really, Epix, this is the best you can do?!!!
Absolutely ridiculous plot, to the point of insulting anyone who tries to watch it. While the entire country is in collapse, these idiotic characters drink wine, make jokes, complain about their lives and their neighbors. No depth to any of the characters and ridiculous stereotypes. One of the worst films I've ever seen. Granted we're in a Pandemic, but why is it all we get out of Hollywood these days are remakes of remakes, superhero films and trash like this?!!!
Really, Epix, this is the best you can do?!!!
Why? I'll tell you WHY the movie was bad **SPOLIERS**
arnolda7712 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
First of all, I gave this movie a try because the trailer looked good, and it had two known actors in it that I have previously seen in other things that were good. I don't see how he could go from True Blood to this garbage. It's now a stain on his acting record.
There was just too much unbelievable nonsense going on combined with weak/absent character depth and development, plus weak story progression and overall plot behind it.
1. The ending was ridiculous. ANYONE would want to seek revenge for having their face permanently damaged like that - and for no reason! They wouldn't just live happily ever after together - are the writers of the film children??? Not to mention just letting a BIG group of random strangers in, right away, during an "apocalypse." These people wouldn't last a week doing stupid things like that.
2. The male main character was rude to his neighbor for no reason, and actually was REALLY ungrateful that he even let FIVE additional mouths stay with his family, during a time like that when there is a food and supply shortage. 5 humans would use up extra everything at an extremely fast rate!
3. There were so many stupid decisions made by pretty much every character but I will only list a few. This was supposed to take place in current times - like today. No one would go that long without checking their cell phone even once for any reason, even just to see what time it is!! They want you to believe the aunt didn't notice her phone was gone until the next afternoon? In 2022? Get real. Same goes for the mom not hearing her or feeling her phone vibrate AT ALL the entire time she was out at the store or in the car. You don't have to be a social media addict to look at your cell phone once or twice an hour.
4. Also, the aunt was looking for her phone in her car when he went in to tell her to come on so they could leave. Why would she get back in the car and look for the phone for 5 more minutes? It's a car, not a damn warehouse... She could have just told him to call the device if she thought it was in there. Her death was stupid and avoidable, no one would behave that way.
5. In the beginning when the family found out what was going on in town, they made NO CHANGES in the security of their home - and probably even went to bed with the doors unlocked!! That's crazy! A real person would be concerned of intruders and at the very least set an alarm for their home at night before going to bed.
6. The kid not talking served 0 purpose in the film. Is he bad at acting? What was the reason for this? Also, why did he move/hide the spare bunker key? He didn't even tell anyone about it, so that was just another pointless and unrealistic inconvenience.
7. After the shower scene, I realized the whole cheating/affair plot-line or background had no purpose either. It was just filler nonsense, because the wife didn't even sleep with or do ANYthing with the neighbor. There was literally no point for them to keep bringing up the fact that their marriage was rocky and falling apart.
8. The neighbor was kind enough to let five useless mouths take up an already small space, and consume HIS stored resources, but the main character still refused to learn how to shoot a gun so he could help defend both families. Then "hid" a gun in a completely open non-hiding spot place? WTF. He's against guns, and the gun is not even hidden. Were the writers high while coming up with this stuff?
9. I didn't even know the pregnant lady was the guy's wife until near the end of the movie. I thought she might have been his daughter or someone else. They didn't give any sign of being a couple at all until she got jealous about breastfeeding the baby. Another example of poor character depth, and development by the writers.
10. If something like a big stock crash happened causing riots and chaos or martial law was announced, there's no way the father wouldn't have known about it before starting work. The media and news would be sending SO many notifications that you wouldn't be able to read them all. And who would see the big mob with things on fire on TV and think nothing of it?? Knowing his family is out and about doing things or at work/school? Ok...
The people saying it was good either work for the film company or they think the movie was believable because THEY would actually do the things the characters were doing, which is a scary thought. People like that won't make it in martial law times, R. I. P. If you can't see what's wrong with the decisions they made in this movie.
There was just too much unbelievable nonsense going on combined with weak/absent character depth and development, plus weak story progression and overall plot behind it.
1. The ending was ridiculous. ANYONE would want to seek revenge for having their face permanently damaged like that - and for no reason! They wouldn't just live happily ever after together - are the writers of the film children??? Not to mention just letting a BIG group of random strangers in, right away, during an "apocalypse." These people wouldn't last a week doing stupid things like that.
2. The male main character was rude to his neighbor for no reason, and actually was REALLY ungrateful that he even let FIVE additional mouths stay with his family, during a time like that when there is a food and supply shortage. 5 humans would use up extra everything at an extremely fast rate!
3. There were so many stupid decisions made by pretty much every character but I will only list a few. This was supposed to take place in current times - like today. No one would go that long without checking their cell phone even once for any reason, even just to see what time it is!! They want you to believe the aunt didn't notice her phone was gone until the next afternoon? In 2022? Get real. Same goes for the mom not hearing her or feeling her phone vibrate AT ALL the entire time she was out at the store or in the car. You don't have to be a social media addict to look at your cell phone once or twice an hour.
4. Also, the aunt was looking for her phone in her car when he went in to tell her to come on so they could leave. Why would she get back in the car and look for the phone for 5 more minutes? It's a car, not a damn warehouse... She could have just told him to call the device if she thought it was in there. Her death was stupid and avoidable, no one would behave that way.
5. In the beginning when the family found out what was going on in town, they made NO CHANGES in the security of their home - and probably even went to bed with the doors unlocked!! That's crazy! A real person would be concerned of intruders and at the very least set an alarm for their home at night before going to bed.
6. The kid not talking served 0 purpose in the film. Is he bad at acting? What was the reason for this? Also, why did he move/hide the spare bunker key? He didn't even tell anyone about it, so that was just another pointless and unrealistic inconvenience.
7. After the shower scene, I realized the whole cheating/affair plot-line or background had no purpose either. It was just filler nonsense, because the wife didn't even sleep with or do ANYthing with the neighbor. There was literally no point for them to keep bringing up the fact that their marriage was rocky and falling apart.
8. The neighbor was kind enough to let five useless mouths take up an already small space, and consume HIS stored resources, but the main character still refused to learn how to shoot a gun so he could help defend both families. Then "hid" a gun in a completely open non-hiding spot place? WTF. He's against guns, and the gun is not even hidden. Were the writers high while coming up with this stuff?
9. I didn't even know the pregnant lady was the guy's wife until near the end of the movie. I thought she might have been his daughter or someone else. They didn't give any sign of being a couple at all until she got jealous about breastfeeding the baby. Another example of poor character depth, and development by the writers.
10. If something like a big stock crash happened causing riots and chaos or martial law was announced, there's no way the father wouldn't have known about it before starting work. The media and news would be sending SO many notifications that you wouldn't be able to read them all. And who would see the big mob with things on fire on TV and think nothing of it?? Knowing his family is out and about doing things or at work/school? Ok...
The people saying it was good either work for the film company or they think the movie was believable because THEY would actually do the things the characters were doing, which is a scary thought. People like that won't make it in martial law times, R. I. P. If you can't see what's wrong with the decisions they made in this movie.
Epic Fail
debaries-853083 May 2022
There is nothing redeeming about this movie and I watched hoping that he would make a turn for the best but unfortunately it just got worse! I would not recommend this movie to anyone. The plot, characters and script was just bad!
Could've Been so much more
calicatch29 April 2022
Good concept, dissapointing execution, editing, storyline & directing. It was kindof sloppy to watch. There were holes in the plot & it was allover the place with the characters & not to mention -seriously cringy cringe moments. We were mad by the end of the movie & asked ourselves why we even finished watching it.
Horror, Thriller?
jawhite440012 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
A couple with underlying relationship issues Use being locked together in a bunker with a dystopian prepared family as therapy for their relationship? Through no communication, they take the shelter over. And the wife is inferred to be the leader at the end of the movie? Stop.
Awful acting but not the worst
welhof122 May 2022
This movie does not deserve a 3.9 rating here. It's not great of course. Maybe my 6.0 is a bit generous I don't know. This movie did one thing well and that it kept moving and held your interest. From beginning to end I was caught up in the excitement and tension. This movie also was bad in some respects. The acting was horrible, especially from the female lead. I rarely complain about acting. Also the ending was so anticlimactic. It was like just another scene but it was the climax. Again, definitely not deserving of a 3.9, but pass on this anyways.
Real passive aggressive message here.
wbronco-1714531 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This was about something else other than the plot. Would have been a good story if it wasn't trying to have a message. If they had focused on the bigger situation of what was going on and stuck to the format of apocalypse/suspense sort of stuff it would have worked. The actors were good, they would have been better with better writing. The ending really iced the cake on what was wrong this. The man who was supposed to be (I'm assuming) the embodiment of all that is bad with the world (according to modern popular opinion) just submits in the end and doesn't fly off in a vengeful rage? Sure, that makes sense.
Actually not a bad film.
LLgoatJ8 January 2022
Sometime in the future a financial crash causes a breakdown in society. A family take shelter with their neighbours who live in an underground bunker.
I actually enjoyed this film. There were no slow bits. It had a good pace. The story was a little different. There was tension and action. The only main criticism is the ending. It seemed rushed and didn't really seem to fit with the film.
Just watch the film for entertainment rather than thinking too much about it.
I actually enjoyed this film. There were no slow bits. It had a good pace. The story was a little different. There was tension and action. The only main criticism is the ending. It seemed rushed and didn't really seem to fit with the film.
Just watch the film for entertainment rather than thinking too much about it.
Decent but could be better
mira-mitchell4 March 2022
This movie is not horrible but a bit lack luster and slow at moments. I'm not going to complain about the political/ racial aspect because it's a movie. And as often as POC have been cast as savages and criminals I feel no qualms with this dynamic. I could see people's issue if America's past was just.
Academic man needs to prove he will fight for his family
tlharrison-5954623 July 2022
When the country is thrown into chaos, a black family must seek shelter and food from their white next-door-neighbor, who happens to be a backwoods truther and religious zealot.
This movie was about as in-your-face superficial as it could get. Two families that are opposites in almost all aspects must survive together. The one quality we see shared in Greg, Winter, and Zoe is their need to be outspoken. This creates little squabbles ad nauseum among the characters.
The acting and writing were both meh, and I kept feeling like I was still waiting for the movie to take-off, though before I knew it, it was the end. It ended abruptly and unrealistically. I'll give it two stars because I did finish it, I was just hoping for more of a story. This depended entirely on opposing lifestyles creating conflict.
This movie was about as in-your-face superficial as it could get. Two families that are opposites in almost all aspects must survive together. The one quality we see shared in Greg, Winter, and Zoe is their need to be outspoken. This creates little squabbles ad nauseum among the characters.
The acting and writing were both meh, and I kept feeling like I was still waiting for the movie to take-off, though before I knew it, it was the end. It ended abruptly and unrealistically. I'll give it two stars because I did finish it, I was just hoping for more of a story. This depended entirely on opposing lifestyles creating conflict.
What is this nonsense?!
haltomj-113 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Spoiler alert I guess, but this movie is already rotten so.. They made the main black dude look like an entitled, weak, cuckold. My man, who earlier was professing the virtues of a proper education, hid the gun (which he was so against using) in the dumbest place possible. Then he hatched up a plan to get his wife and kids back with a bag full of cleaning supplies along with his weird kid armed with a rubber mallet. Ready for battle, smh... So you're telling me his plan was to choke his own family with smoke and then wait until the perfect opportunity to take out the white dude (who was armed with an AR-15, mind you) with a hot skillet full of lead? And that 'plan' wouldn't have even worked if they hadn't have found the key in the bible at the opportune moment. And then they all lived happily ever after. This movie was so bananas it was almost entertaining.
My high expectations were destroyed
adrista-1833328 April 2022
Well I have to admit that my expectations watching this movie was eventually too high. But the trailer looked pretty cool and I thought would be full of action. In the end it was a true waste of time! Absolutely horrible and stupid movie. Simple plot and just very boring from the beginning to the end. And what on earth is the problem of this guy called Winter???
Certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone. With a lot of goodwill worth a one star rating. Soundtrack was a pain to my ears too.
Certainly wouldn't recommend it to anyone. With a lot of goodwill worth a one star rating. Soundtrack was a pain to my ears too.
Lacking
mnmsilva117 December 2021
Diversity and screenplay. I watched all the way through yet was disappointed on how the villainized one group of people. Acting was great could have been much better if their was not an internal agenda. Too bad for the director, could have been a great movie otherwise. Stars were only for the great acting portrayed by all the actors.
Confusing and upsetting for Sam(Spoilers)
pezzist-110 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I have to say I was really excited for this show. Sam Trammel is just an great actor, through-in-through. I was sad to see that he took a role as a "villan." I would argue that is how the script would want to be read. Unfortunately, the plot could not make sense of this making Sam not the bad guy.
Ok so we have a family seeking shelter from Sam. So he feeds them gives them a place to live, saves their lives for days. Then Derek Luke plots to overthrow Sam, loses, takes Sams eye and somehow they live happily ever after. Allison & Nicolas, you blew your shot to work with one of the greats.
Ok so we have a family seeking shelter from Sam. So he feeds them gives them a place to live, saves their lives for days. Then Derek Luke plots to overthrow Sam, loses, takes Sams eye and somehow they live happily ever after. Allison & Nicolas, you blew your shot to work with one of the greats.
Terrible
sm-16963-6442215 July 2022
Disappointing. Great movie idea however poorly portrayed. Derek Luke must've needed money. A black female physician delivers and breast feeds a strange Caucasian woman's baby and the woman's father jumps in shower with the married doctor.
Disgraceful. I only watched in segments to how awful the movie would be. I wasn't disappointed in it's awfulness.
Disgraceful. I only watched in segments to how awful the movie would be. I wasn't disappointed in it's awfulness.
Good Movie
debgor-4428020 June 2022
Don't believe the butt hurt reviews
reginalewis200810 March 2022
The movie was entertaining for a one time watch. I've literally never left a review but seeing so many people upset about the movie's themes had me tickled. When movies make people who look like them the heroes, everything is fine, but now that movies have changed the normal protagonists and antagonists, the world is falling apart lol Get over it.
Perfect for our time
drhermandc-1396523 February 2022
Not a perfect movie but a superbly acted one with a fascinating and well-developed plot. Lots of unforeseen expansions on the basic premise. Lots of interesting character development. Hard to watch at times but satisfying in the end.
Bum House
Draysan-Jennings11 December 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Who's the genius that came up with the title American Refugee? A refugee is someone who flees their own country. This film takes place in America. It wasn't like the family escaped America to live in Canada. They were literally looking for refuge in their next-door neighbors bunker. Also, who was the so-called American refugee? The father? The newborn baby? I didn't get it. And what was up with that ending? The father gets melted lead thrown on his face and in the very next scene they're all one big happy family. Definitely lost me with that one. Another Blumhouse epic fail. 5 stars.
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