Greetings Folks,

I finally had to a chance to watch The Intruder and wanted to share my thoughts. Before we get started, check out the following trailer if you haven’t seen it already.

Directed by Deon Taylor, The Intruder stars Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, and Dennis Quaid.

The Intruder is a psychological thriller that tells the story of Scott and Annie Russell (Ealy and Good), a young couple who buys their first home in the countryside of Napa Valley, California. The previous owner, Charlie Peck (Quaid), seems like a normal retiree offering a great deal to the couple. But things take a turn for the worse when Charlie’s obsessive attachment to the house interferes with the lives of the new owners. Once their safety is questioned, a violent confrontation becomes inevitable.

The concept of this film initially drew me in and kept my attention. It was refreshing to see a Black millennial couple, who were very affectionate with each other, fight side by side to defend their home and themselves. I happen to be a fan of the main cast (particularly Meagan Good, for obvious reasons), and none of them disappointed when it came to their actual performances. Dennis Quaid’s character, in particular, gave off Jack Nicholson and Cillian Murphy vibes.

However, the main issue I had was with the house and its backstory. Charlie Peck’s obsession wasn’t unpacked enough, which is unfortunate because that was the central theme of the movie. The life events leading up to his mental breakdown didn’t hold enough weight, in my opinion, to make him a believable psychopath. And there were times where I thought I was watching a 90s teen slasher film instead of a grownup thriller.

Although I did enjoy Scott and Annie’s relationship, both of them were very dense and disconnected from the realities of the Western world. Almost every negative stereotype about millennial manhood described Scott’s character; dude couldn’t fight, didn’t do yard work, and lacked the testicular fortitude needed to get drapes for his windows. Annie was extremely “blonde” throughout the film as well, proving that she didn’t grow up around urban America or watched the news regularly. Because she had an Open Door Policy for the very nutcase she complained about.

The film’s storyline, pacing, and cinematography kept me intrigued. But I’m not disappointed about missing it in the theaters.

Grade of C+

Until Next Time…