Tiffany Scott
Exec. Business Manager
“The Intruder” is incredibly entertaining and offers an interesting take on the horror genre with creepy cinematography and exceptional performances.
The film was directed by Dean Taylor and written by David Loughery. Produced by Screen Gems, the film was released to theaters nationwide on May 3. The film features Meagan Good as Annie Russell, Michael Ealy as Scott Russell and Dennis Quaid as Charlie Peck.
Scott and Annie are a young married couple looking to purchase a new home to start a family outside of the bustling city of San Francisco. They find Annie’s dream home up for sale by Charlie Peck. However, after they purchase the home, Charlie never seems to leave, constantly popping up on the property seemingly out of nowhere and always offering excuses as to why he has not yet left town. As his appearances become more frequent and unhinged, Scott begins to worry for his and Annie’s safety.
The simple screenplay may come across as cli·ché but Taylor’s directing creates a film rife with slow-burning tension. As the camera trains the audience on the layout of the estate and the nuances of Charlie’s triggers, viewers slowly become aware of the storyline. The attention to detail is subtle so viewers are always primed for moments of heightened emotion.
The film does a good job with jumpscares, often relying more on light revealing disturbing scenes in the shadows rather than fast motion to provoke a startled response. The film has a nail-biting intensity that is often achieved with small things such as a menacing stare and a moving light source. This is only enhanced by the lead performances.
Ealy portrays Scott as a paranoid character, as he is constantly suspicious of others because he flirts with other women. This helps to explain Annie’s commitment to seeing the good in others that almost borders on naivete, which makes her an easy target for the villian. The two personalities make for an engaging push and pull between the two conflicting worldviews.
However, the performance that really pulls the film together is Quaid’s role as Charlie. With his uncomfortably eerie smiles and his oddly neurotic obsession with the sanctity of his property, Quaid perfectly plays the role of the film’s villain. His acting leans into borderline disturbing which just makes it all the more frightening.
“The Intruder” is overall a great film to watch, especially with a crowd, as the reactions the fim provokes are intense and emotional. The final shot is something that people will continue to talk about for the rest of the evening. For a film based on such a simple premise, “The Intruder” is incredibly entertaining and unquestionably earns a distinction from other films in the genre.
“The Intruder” is rated PG-13 and is playing in theaters worldwide.
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