The Intruder

The Intruder follows a young man living on his own for the first time. While some critics are dismissing it as just another home invasion thriller, they're missing what makes it special. This isn't just about things that go bump in the night - it's about that terrifying, exciting moment when you finally have your own place and have to face your fears alone.

Remember that first night in your own house? Every little noise seems like a threat, every shadow looks suspicious, and suddenly you're very aware of every creak and groan of the building. The Intruder takes this universal experience and turns it into something truly unnerving.

The film opens with our protagonist waking up on his living room floor, unsure of how he got there. It's an unsettling start to what becomes an increasingly paranoid existence in his new house. Things keep moving around mysteriously. Footsteps echo through the halls at night. Most terrifying are his episodes of sleep paralysis, where he lies helpless, convinced someone's watching him in the darkness.

While most thrillers would jump straight to the scares, this one takes its time exploring what it really means to face your fears. Is he actually experiencing these things, or is he sleepwalking? Could his neighbor Joe be involved? Everyone around him suggests he's just anxious about living alone - and that's exactly what makes this film so clever. It captures that moment in life when everyone treats your legitimate concerns as just another case of young adult jitters.

What really grabbed me was how the main character's journey mirrors what we all go through when stepping into independence. Between the mysterious disturbances and doubting his own judgment, he's really wrestling with something bigger: learning to trust himself. The lead actor nails this vulnerability, making you feel every moment of uncertainty and growing confidence.

When the shocking truth is finally revealed in the film's climax, it's a gut-punch reminder that sometimes our worst fears aren't just in our heads. What makes the revelation so powerful isn't just the twist itself, but how deeply we've come to understand this character's psychological journey. It's the kind of ending that sends you back through the movie in your mind, picking up all the subtle clues you missed the first time around.

If you're into thrillers that balance genuine character development with spine-chilling suspense, this one's for you. This is a smart, layered film about the terrifying process of learning to trust yourself.

I like the main character here and I thought David Gow did as much as he could with the script he was given. I had problems with several of the "red herrings" that appeared to make no sense (the sleepwalking, the insistence of not calling the police). I am interested to know why the director-writer deliberately avoids establishing the main character as Gay. The subtext is there. We don't have any reasons for the main character's angst. A separation or ending of a long term relationship would have given far more motivation for his personal anxieties. It is still worth a watch and good example of what you can do on a very small budget.

This slow burn thriller is an example of how stupid a person can be. I mean, installing cameras after so many things happened? Can you be any slower than that? If they were murderers, he'd be dead by now. Not to mention changing the locks not right after his neighbor advised him? Way to go, slowpoke! This movie is a complete waste of time! More than an hour spent going back and forth between mental illness and supernatural beings. And as it turned out, it was neither. STUPID! The acting wasn't even that good. And too many build ups that went into nothing. They stretched it for far too long, 30 minutes is enough to convey the whole plot. Cause the conclusion of this movie was only about 15 minutes at the end of it. Don't wanna waste your precious time like I did? Go to the time stamp I just told you. You'll thank me later.

This film had me questioning it from the moment, the intrusive neighbor came over. The neighbor's behavior and dialogue made no sense at all and was odd at times to say the least. People simply don't behave like this. Next - the acting was atrocious as it relates to Joe, the neighbor. The guy who played the main character was believable as far as acting is concerned but the neighbor was horrible and his ridiculous dialogue didn't help at all. The storyline had major plot holes that would have to force the viewer to suspend belief because people with common sense would not do some of the things that the main character was doing. I often wondered, while watching; if the character was supposed to be seen as or portrayed as mentally challenged due to some of his decisions. Even now, I'm not really sure. All I can say is that this film had no real resolution or likeable characters except maybe the sister. This film had an interesting premise but the execution was horrendous...

For what it's worth I really enjoyed this movie. Holes in the plot and resolution, absolutely, but I liked the two lead performances. I watch - or turn off - a lot of 1-2 star quality streaming horror and I considered this an above average find. I'm always looking for that sense of tension and I experienced that with this. It definitely reminded me of living alone and the way my heart would leap if there was a late night knock on the door.