The Intruder (2019) – Film Review – “Not Welcome Here”
Like I said to my friend whom went with me, during our post-viewing discussion, I never planned to rush out this review after I’d seen the movie. Even now—days later—I’m not totally enthusiastic about putting it out in the world. All of this is just fluff, to be honest, because I have very little to say about this movie. Upping my word count, as it were. Filling space. Bloating. Extra.
One more… Sassafras.
Okay, let’s get into this. For real this time.
No backsies.
We’re in it.
Alright, seriously…
This movie is…disappointing. Most of all, compared to Deon Taylor’s previous film, Traffik, I was not enthralled. It may just have been Paula Patton’s take-charge performance, but that film had me on the edge of my seat until the very end of the credits (I’ll link my thoughts below…as well as my review of a very similar film). The Intruder does not do that—it builds tension…and keeps building it. Very few pay-offs to all the hold-your-breath moments. I dig the soundtrack, but music can’t save a movie; the characters all make “horror movie decisions”, the writing opens up so many plot holes and conveniences that I walked out with more questions than I got answers for. I couldn’t even remember the beginning of the movie, in our post-viewing chit-chat. Awkward cuts (for gore? to get that PG-13 rating?), audio dubbing choices that are, at best, laughable, and a story that’s all over the place and tries to be many other—better—movies, at once.
Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow)’s character of Charlie is totally inspired by Jack Nicholson’s performance in The Shining (1980). I like him, but the part would have been better suited for someone like…James Spader (Avengers: Age of Ultron, TV’s The Black List); Spader’s intimidating tone and stoic demeanor would’ve served the movie better insomuch as having Charlie get more under our skin. While I was looking forward to Dennis Quaid doing “creepy”, it’s clear that character actors are just that, for a reason: They’re good at playing specific characters.
Michael Ealy (Barbershop, Think Like A Man)’s character of Scott is the only one with any real sense—he sees through the BS and knows what’s going on from day one, and no one else takes him seriously. Guess we wouldn’t have a movie, if they had. A final-scene shift in ethics causes his character to become a parody of all he stood for—and against. Meagan Good (Shazam!, TV’s Minority Report (2015))—like Patton, before her—I thought would be the one to shine in all this. But her character of Annie is over-trusting to the point of likely axe murder, in any other horror-thriller. There’s a Get Out-themed angle on cultural and generational crossroads, here, but it falls flat; nothing in here suggests any kind of message or stance taken on anything. It reads more as fetish fulfillment, if I’m being completely frank… So close to losing yet another star, over one scene that’s hinted at in the trailer, as well…
Tangent: I don’t understand the mindset of a person—several people, in this instance—that spends $10-plus on a movie ticket, and concessions, then decides to whip out their phone during the show. Just baffles me…
Final ‘Risk Assessment: ***/**. Save ya money.
In case you missed it:
LINK: “Traffik – Film Review”
