Home is Where the Hurt is

We’re often taught to fear the stranger on the street, but the reality is that for many women home is the most dangerous place (UN, 2024). With one in four women experiencing domestic abuse in their lifetime, this is a national emergency that needs immediate action.

'Home is Where the Hurt is' is a powerful short film created by Refuge to expose this hidden reality. Subverting the familiar format of aspirational ‘house tour’ content popularised by property influencers, the film draws viewers into a seemingly perfect suburban home before subtle, unsettling signs reveal how abuse can occur behind closed doors.

Everyday household features are reframed as tools of coercive control, surveillance and harm. The tonal shift is gradual rather than shocking, allowing the audience to experience abuse as it occurs in real life: quietly, incrementally and often unseen. As such, the film invites repeated viewing to catch details missed the first time round.

Developed with creative agency Revolt and shaped by survivor insight, the film purposefully avoids sensationalism or graphic imagery, instead relying on performance, pacing and nuance to create emotional impact. This approach ensured the film was both trauma informed and accessible to broad audiences.

Launched ahead of International Women’s Day 2026, the film acted as the centrepiece of a wider campaign but stood powerfully on its own as a piece of storytelling. It enhanced public understanding of domestic abuse, drove national media discussion, and pointed viewers directly to Refuge’s life saving services.