Horror movies come in a variety of subgenres, many of which lose popularity or undergo massive shifts over the years. The home invasion horror film is generally very simple, so a lot of filmmakers have felt the need to put a unique spin on the concept. The 2015 filmIntrudersfalls into a small sub-subgenre that has largely taken over home invasion cinema as a concept.
Films about home invasions are almostas old as cinema itself, but there are classics strewn over the decades. Michael Haneke’s 1997 filmFunny Gamesand his 2007 remake by the same name arguably define the genre, but everything fromWait Until DarktoThe Strangersfits the bill.
RELATED:This Home Invasion Thriller Subverted The Familiar Genre
Intruders, also known asShut InandDeadly Home, ran the festival circuit in 2015 before its somewhat wide release in 2016. The film is not well known, partially because there are at least six other movies and two TV shows with its main title and at least two other films with its alternate title. A film calledThe Intrudersstarring Miranda Cosgrove hit theaters in the same year. Titles aside, the film is an example of a unique home break-in trope.
Intruderstakesplace in the homeof Anna, an agoraphobic shut-in who is terrified of her own front door and everything beyond it. She takes care of her ailing brother and shares a pleasant friendship with her food delivery guy. When her brother succumbs to his illness, she’s unable to bring herself to go to the funeral. Unfortunately, a trio of desperate thugs happens to be aware of Anna’s large sums of cash. They break in under the delusion that she’s not there, only to discover her inability to leave. As the trio explores the house, they uncover nightmarish secrets that swiftly turn them from perpetrator to victim. The idea of a break-in turning sinister when the seemingly helpless victim reveals their dirty secrets might immediately remindone of Fede Alvarez’sDon’t Breathe.Intruderscame out shortly beforeDon’t Breathe, and though the latter film attained much more popularity, both represent the same unique spin on home invasion thrillers.
Intrudersis the feature debut of director Adam Schindler. Schindler made a name for himself directing theshort filmKilling Floor: Uncovered. He went on to direct a three-part episode of the anthology series50 States of Frightfor the ill-fated streaming service Quibi. Since directingIntruders, he put out the short filmSundownand announced the upcoming filmDon’t Move, which seems reminiscent of his debut. The script comes from T.J. Cimfel and David K. White, who previously wrote the “Vicious Circles"segment ofV/H/S: Viral. Schindler’s direction is perhaps the strongest element of the film, pulling solid performances out of a fascinating cast.
The star ofIntrudersis Beth Riesgraf, who is probably best known for her role on the TNT seriesLeverage. She went on to star in and direct a few episodes of the 2021Leverage: Redemptionrevival. Riesgraf is great in the role, a performance that moves between fragile vulnerability and unhinged madness. The three criminals are portrayed by Jack Kesy, Martin Starr, and Joshua Mikel. Starr is a hugely underrated character actor, perhaps best known for his roleas Peter Parker’s teacherMr. Harrington in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Kesy portrays Gabriel Bolivar in FX’sThe Strain. Mikel appears as Jared onThe Walking Dead, but he’s also a published playwright. Anna’s only friend Dan is portrayed by Rory Culkin, who went on to star in the black metal biopicLords of Chaos. Culkin has spent a weird amount of his career grievously injured and trying to negotiate for his life, but he does excel at it.
Intrudersis a film that feels like it’s keeping secrets until its final moments. The reveals will make or break the experience for the audience. Critics have roundly praised the first act of the film, but the third remains a bit more controversial. The necessary evil of these films is that it isn’t much fun to watch through after the secrets have all been revealed. The filmis a tight 90 minutes, so the pace stays solid throughout. Once the titular intruders kick in the door, there’s very little room to breathe between sudden increases in tension. It’s fast and efficient, but the peak it’s building up to won’t work for everyone. For those who can follow Schindler to his destination,Intrudersis effective, tense, and well-executed.
Don’t Breathegets allthe credit for the idea of a group of criminals becoming the victims of the horror movie, butIntrudersbeat Alvarez to the punch. It’s a clever subversion that will no doubt become common in the years to come. Anyone can be a horror movie antagonist today. Maybe we should all just stop breaking and entering.
