Danielle Solzman
The Intruder may be thrilling but laughable in that it’s full of predictable thriller cliches that never stop even when we know what’s coming.
When Scott (Michael Ealy) and Annie (Meagan Good) decide to leave the city for Napa Valley, they’re getting more than they bargained for. They find their dream home in the form of Foxglove even if Bambi killer Charlie Peck (Dennis Quaid) owns it. Scott, perhaps seeing something that Annie doesn’t, decides that the asking price of $3.5 million is too much. Charlie sweetens the deal and next thing we know, the two of them are moving into their new home. Meanwhile, Charlie starts heading to Florida–or so we think.
Before we know it, it appears that Charlie is a bit too attached to the house. Maybe fixated would be the better term here? Either way, he has an obsession and just will not leave the premises. It does not matter what Annie or Scott do because Charlie’s there. Maybe more so than Annie, Scott is not liking it for a minute. Strangely, something seems to be stopping him from calling the cops. Together, they’re suspicious enough to change the locks and get a security system installed. Getting a security system, however, isn’t enough. One thing leads to another and next thing you know, Scott has best friend Mike (Joseph Sikora) look into Charlie’s background. This is a good idea until it isn’t.
If I learned any lesson at all from The Intruder, it’s to never buy a house without doing a background check first. The moment that they saw Charlie mowing their lawn should have been the first suspicious sign. But then he keeps coming back and back. What happened to Charlie moving to Florida? This seems to be a running thread that just won’t go away here. Loose ends? How about looking into those loose ends?!? Oh, he’s back again?!? The dude wants your wife. How do you not even have a restraining order set up yet?!?
When a film like The Intruder has this type of title, it basically writes itself so to speak. It’s just a matter of how good it’s going to be with the thrilling portions. Oh, it’s a thriller alright. It may be completely predictable but the film is very much a thriller. You know it’s a certain type of film when the audience decides to get in on the fun!
DIRECTOR: Deon Taylor
SCREENWRITER: David Loughery
CAST: Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Joseph Sikora, and Dennis Quaid
