The
term 'Home Stay' is unfamiliar to most Westerns. In Asia - especially
India - a Home Stay is similar to a hostel (or bed-n-breakfast) where
the guest stays for a week or longer. In the beginning of this film,
a news announcer is reporting on the brutal knife-slaying death of a
female home stay victim. The reporter then tells of some partying teen
home-stayers who are beaten and raped by a local gang. Oddly, the message
of this television report is BLAME, as if the
home stay guests deserve the abusive treatment because they are 'invalid
citizens,' taking advantage of community without being part of it.
After
this very strange TV report - undoubtedly not endorsed by the tourist
board - the real story begins. A young woman named Akshara manages to
extend time-off from her job to two weeks. So she immediately plans
a surprise visit to her fiancee in the town of Coorg. After driving
all day, she arrives at a remote home-stay [seemingly, the same one
where the (previously mentioned) female was killed]. But Akshara enjoys
a quiet evening in the quaint surroundings. Then, suddenly, the owner
must go away after getting an emergency call from the hospital. She
leaves the maid and a watchman in charge. At this point, the story begins
to horrifically spin out-of-control, as Akshara seems trapped in some
kind of sadistic, dangerous loop that becomes creepier by the minute.
Sayali
Bhagat (born in Maharashtra India, 1984) is an actress and former beauty
queen, winning the title of Femina, Miss India World in 2004. After
graduating from Mumbai University, she enjoyed a modeling career for
a few years before turning to motion pictures in 2007. HOME
STAY is her 20th film.
A Hindi
Indian film with optional ON/OFF English subtitles; widescreen format,
fully uncut (106 minutes), DVD encoded for ALL REGION NTSC WORLD FORMAT;
extras include original theatrical trailer
Adult
Material/Violence/Rape/Sexual Situations:
Recommended for Mature Audiences