FANTASIA 2025: ‘Hold The Fort’ Is A Campaign For HOAs Everywhere

Hold The Fort is a reminder that home ownership can be hell, but sometimes, it may not always be the HOA causing the problems. Hear me out here. Sometimes, it’s an otherworldly force bent on world domination, or at least, the plot of land this HOA occupies. Written and directed by William Bagley, with a story by Scott Hawkins, this horror-comedy captures the sheer chaos and craziness that the premise demands with some hokey charm and loads of bloody explosions. 

Home ownership is the dream for many, and for the couple Lucas (Chris Mayers) and Jenny (Haley Leary), they manage to achieve it. However, for these two former city folk, this new neighborhood will take some getting used to. First off, there’s an HOA. With more and more HOAs popping up all over, they are practically inescapable for homeowners, but in pursuit of the white picket fence, the two cast aside their grievances to try to make it work.

The thing is, their new neighborhood has a major secret. Once a year, it is host to some hellish monsters. Literally. It’s not a euphemism for the people on the HOA. We’re talking actual monsters from the depths of some alternative dimension, and it’s up to the HOA to keep these monsters from taking over the neighborhood or die trying. Needless to say, the latest additions to this cozy community hit the ground running, with just a dash of cowering thrown in. 

Hold The Fort throws its newbies into the fire to burn or fight in silly fashion.

Despite its short runtime, Hold The Fort cuts no corners in its storytelling, making the best use of its time. From the beginning, with an oh-so-tense introduction to the situation, manifesting itself in arguably the most realistic argument between a longtime couple, the tonal balance between the silly and the terror is there. Danger is around every corner once the portal opens up, but this hilarious cast of characters has some jokes to keep things light, even when they have to slash and dash.

There are, of course, some incredibly cheesy punster one-liners, most of which are delivered by resident dad type, Ted (Levi Burdick), and the resident monster assassin, McScruffy (Hamid-Reza Benjamin Thompson). While occasionally a couple of these lines are irredeemable, due to a combination of what’s on the page and subsequent delivery, the intention and commitment are there to smooth over the bumps somewhat. That said, if you’re sense of humor isn’t the cheesy kind, venture carefully into this feature. 

The first act of Hold The Fort focuses on our couple, with Lucas being the more optimistic of the two, while Jenny is the more grumpy, anti-HOA curmudgeon. The two embody the opposites attract archetype well. As the events of the film unfold, both are equally challenged, and the initial impressions are easily swapped. While Hold The Fort is very much an ensemble feature, as a character, Lucas stands out as being kind of the worst. 

The horror elements lean heavily into the gore and violence, with loads of bloody squirting. Yes, phrasing.

Given the circumstances, Lucas can’t be entirely blamed. A person’s strength of character isn’t determined until put into intense circumstances, and battling literal monsters from hell is pretty up there in terms of intensity. What was meant to be a fresh start turns ugly quickly. However, a finely delivered, character-defining monologue from Levi Burdick’s Ted marks a turning point for Lucas, who is more intent on running away than taking a stand. It is through Chris Mayers’ performance that the hope that Lucas comes through is facilitated.

One character who continues to help despite literally every plot curveball thrown at him is the HOA President, Jerry (Julian Smith). Julian Smith is impeccably funny, combining ludicrous physical comedy with mastery of tone. As someone who went in expecting the worst out of the HOA President, Jerry was an incredibly pleasant surprise of a character, proving that Hold The Fort may be in the running as one of the best rehabilitation campaigns for HOAs everywhere. 

But enough talk about the heartwarming moments. Let’s get into the horror. With a mix of practical and CG effects, each wave of monsters keeps both the characters and the audience on their toes. Some of the most innocuous-looking creatures are arguably the most violent, proving that even with the most preparation, none of these characters are safe. What practical effects are deployed prove to be useful, with plenty of explosions to make a gore lover content. 

Honestly, Hold The Fort is so-silly-it’s-kind-of-stupid levels of fun. From beginning to end, even in the most violent situations, the humor never stops. The cast and crew had oodles of fun on this project, and it shows. If there’s anything to take away, it’s this. Before finalizing a deal on any home you’re buying, always read the fine print, especially the HOA guidelines. It’ll save you a world of hurt and then some.

Hold The Fort world premiered at the 2025 Fantasia International Film Festival.