THE INTRUDER (2019)

Directed By: Deon Taylor 
Written By: David Loughery 
Cinematography: Daniel Pearl 
Editor: Melissa Kent 

Cast: Meagan Good, Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Joseph Sikora, Alvina August 

 A young married couple buys a beautiful house on several acres of land, only to find out that the man they bought it from refuses to let go of the property.


As the audience you pretty much know what is going to happen the premise isn’t new, but most films of this ilk at least try to offer a surprise or some kind of twist. This film chooses to play it all straight.

The film plays almost like one of those television re-enactments where they recreate a crime and the story around it but those re-enactments have more thrills and chills then this movie actually does.

It also doesn’t help that the lighting in half the scenes is very dark and hard to make out what you are seeing.

The film has to depend a lot of the suspension of disbelief as you can’t believe that Megan Goode’s character is so naive most of the time. Though the film makes it seem Like she appreciates the attention after being left alone, abandoned and a little betrayed. Which In the films one subtle move we find out only later through certain details.

As even the logic of the film makes little sense except to play into it’s Plot and the film doesn’t cover it’s plot holes very well. The one shining achievement of this film is Dennis Quaid’s over the top performance. Where from the very beginning there is no doubt about how crazy he is, we just watch as he gets more and more unhinged.

Though the film tries to offer scares. It is chained to it’s PG-13 rating so it never quite goes as far as maybe it should to be more thrilling. As there is no nudity and sex scenes are cut short and there isn’t even that much death or kills.

Even the soundtrack is disappointing in it being generic. This might play better for a younger audience that aren’t so used to these cliches. Watching this movie is the equivalent of fast food. Good enough for some at the time, but afterwards you pay the price as you notice. How much is missing especially in the way of abundance, meat and nutrition.

Grade: F