HOLLYWOOD—I really hate to say it, but I feel like the movie “The Intruder” is something I’ve already seen a trillion times before. There is nothing more frustrating than watching a movie that you feel you just watched a year or two ago, the only difference this go around is that you have new people in the foray. I felt the movie had a similar narrative to “When the Bough Breaks,” “Obsession,” “The Perfect Guy,” the list goes on and on. In one flick, it’s a male who becomes obsessed with another female or vice versa, however, this movie brings a lot of energy and suspense to the table. It might be predictable, but its predictable fun that I can get behind.
For starters, I don’t think I’ve seen Dennis Quaid in a more frightening and twisted role. It was such a treat to see the actor dive into a villain-esque role. Charlie (Quaid) is unhinged, obsessive and downright deranged at times.
The narrative follows Annie (Meagan Good) and Scott Howard (Michael Ealy) who think they have found the perfect home. Little do they know the buyer has an obsession with the home he once shared with his wife who died under mysterious circumstances. What at first seemed like minor incidents soon escalate where Charlie begins stalking Annie, bursting out in rage when the tiniest thing is tweaked on a house that doesn’t belong to him anymore.
As a viewer, it is crystal clear where the story is headed, but you still get enamored with the mayhem before reaching the climax. You have characters who do stupid things; you have people who don’t see the writing on the wall until it’s way too late. You feel like you’re watching a horror movie and you’re constantly screaming or yelling at people to “Look behind you,” “Don’t go in there,” “What are you doing,” the list goes on and on.
“The Intruder” finds a way to not just turn the viewer into the spectator, but to get you somewhat involved in the movie which heightens the element of suspense, and ultimately the payoff. Good and Ealy do fine in their roles, but it is without a doubt Quaid who steals the show immersing himself in perhaps one of his darkest roles I’ve ever seen from the actor on the big screen.
This movie doesn’t bring anything original to the table, but it does a fine job of keeping the viewer’s attention from start to finish. Dare I say I was thoroughly entertained by this movie even though I knew exactly where it was headed from the beginning to its shout-fueled end.
