The Intruder review – Shallow thriller

Dennis Quaid gets to play a true villain in The Intruder, a predictable psychological thriller which fails lamentably in covering new ground or adding anything fresh to a hackneyed plot.

Directed by Deon Taylor and written by David Loughery, the production concerns a young couple, Scott and Annie Howard, played by Michael Ealy and Meagan Good respectively, who buy their dream home in the country.

Only once they have moved in and are settled, do they come to the chilling realisation that the previous owner Charlie Peck (Quaid) refuses to let it go.

The build-up is slow and methodical with Charlie going to great lengths to be friendly and helpful to the Howards.  It doesn’t take long – or a genius – to see that Charlie is a seriously disturbed individual.

The Intruder. Photo: Sony Pictures

He becomes obsessed with the house (and the beautiful Annie) and the changes the Howards intend making. In his warped mind, he still sees himself as the rightful owner – and he also has designs on Annie.

One night, while Scott is out on a fitness run, Charlie intentionally knocks him down with his car. He intends injuring the man so that he can be alone with his wife. It doesn’t work.

Adding to the scare factor, we are told by one of Charlie’s friends that his wife killed herself in the house after accusing him of having an affair with a younger woman.

Another factor contributing to Charlie’s rapidly disintegrating state of mind is that he’s heavily in debt and was forced to sell the house he loved. The situation soon spirals out of control.

The worrying signs that any “normal” person would have picked up about Charlie are ignored by the couple and they’ve to eventually pay the price.

The Intruder. Photo: Sony Pictures

Quaid is convincing as Charlie, and pulls some angry faces, but Ealy and Meagan Good, though attractive, are candy floss characters without much depth.

The story doesn’t hold water and must join a roster of shallow psychological thrillers which are destined for the DVD bargain bin.

Info

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆
Cast: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good.
Director: Deon Taylor.
Classification: 13 VS.

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