While watching THE INTRUDER I felt that I’d seen this movie
before. Perhaps not this exact movie but more than once I’ve seen those with a
similar storyline. That didn’t make it less enjoyable but it did prevent it
from being the standout movie one would expect with a name like Dennis Quaid
attached.
Annie and Scott Russell (Meagan Good and Michael Ealy) are a
successful young couple in California on their way up. Having landed a top
account at the business he works at the couple decided to buy the house of
their dreams. They find just the place in Napa Valley owned by Charlie Peck
(Quaid). Friendly and open to sharing the history of the house and his family,
Charlie makes them an offer they can’t refuse. After all, he’s selling the
house so he can move in with his daughter in Florida.
Things begin to go a little off once the couple move in.
Scott is certain that he hears creaking in the house at night. Then Charlie
begins showing up at the house doing things like mowing the grass. The couple
tells him he doesn’t need to bother but he just wants to help. His daughter is
still trying to make the room that will be his complete and he won’t be leaving
just quite yet.
Scott sees this as a little strange but Annie feels sorry
for Charlie. After all his wife did die of cancer in this house, his children
were raised here and parting with it must be difficult. She even invites him
for Thanksgiving dinner along with their friends Mike (Joseph Sikora) and
Rachel (Alvina August). As Mike makes suggestions about changing the house by
knocking out a wall to open the space Charlie becomes agitated while talking
about the integrity of the house. It’s an upsetting moment for all. Mike goes
out for a smoke and Charlie follows. It’s an act of intimidation that Mike is
sure of. When he alter finds a cigarette burn in the seat of his car he’s
certain Charlie did it but can’t prove it.
As the days pass Charlie continues to randomly show up out
of the blue at the house. Scott is certain that something is wrong with all of
this but Annie refuses to believe it. For her Charlie is a harmless older man
who just is having trouble moving on. Of course Scott is right as we viewers
have the chance to see Charlie peeking in through windows, breaking into the
house and then watching the couple in their most private of moments.
All of this eventually leads Scott to confront Charlie and
tell him to leave both the house and the couple alone. Of course Annie
apologizes for his behavior. A few days after Scott is out jogging when a truck
comes by and hits him knocking him off the road. Scott is confined to the
hospital overnight and sends Annie home.
Who should show up but Charlie with pizza in hand. He and
Annie talk and share stories. At the same time Mike has shown up at the
hospital and Scott asks him if he will make a point of stopping by the house to
check on Annie. From this point forward all the worst fears you could imagine
begin to rise and become apparent to everyone.
As I said I’ve seen movies before where killers, stalkers
and plain old lunatics end up watching a person or couple with ill intent
before. These movies are never huge box office successes and this one did
decent business. But there is a certain amount of comfort in watching movies
where you have at least an inkling of where it will all go by the end of the
film. Rarely do they alter course or come up with a twist ending. Does this
one? I won’t give it away.
Both Ealy and Good do a good job as the young couple moving
into a different location than they’re used to. Quaid takes center stage here
offering us what appears to be a sympathetic character who is in reality
someone to be feared. That’s not a spoiler if you’ve seen the trailer for the
film. Almost always cast as the hero it’s good to see him stretch like this.
On the whole the movie is an enjoyable entertainment for the
night but more than likely not a film you’ll be popping in yearly to glimpse
once more. If you’re a fan of this sub-genre then you might do so but otherwise
it will be a good night’s rental and little more. But at least it’s a fun ride
the first time around.
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