La locataire

I found this movie on Netflix and saw that Jeffrey Dean Morgan was in it, and that was more than enough of a sales pitch to make me sit down and watch "The Resident".

I have to admit that Jeffrey Dean Morgan was amazing in this movie and he really carried the movie quite nicely. Hillary Swank is certainly not among my most favorite of actresses, and she wasn't outstanding in this movie. Too bad that Christopher Lee wasn't given a bigger role in the movie, because he always brings something unique to the movies he was in.

The Max character was just genuinely disturbed and creepy, and Jeffrey Dean Morgan was really nicely cast for this role.

The storyline in "The Resident" was quite good and captivating, which made for some adequate entertainment.

While "The Resident" is indeed and entertaining movie, then it is hardly the type of movie that has enough contents in its storyline and plot to support more than a single viewing.

What makes a movie to be "necessary" is a to attend to what is designed for: to entertain, to inform, to whatever is the idea. On the other hand, sometimes we face things like "The Resident". In theory, a nice thriller about a woman scared that someone can be going inside her house. But when it comes to the movie itself, what we can see is a festival of clichés, a writer trying - without success - to fool ourselves for 5 minutes and then releasing the whole story in one scene. And after that, all the scary elements are gone and it all becomes a bloodthirsty silly horror film (with the only advantage of having a good cast). The director seems lazy to explain the story and just throw the information to the spectator. Although with good moments, the movie is all conducted to the most stupid session of screams, blood and obvious moments, with the most pathetic ending.

The acting in this movie is the only saving grace while it's a tried plot the 2011 Spanish movie Sleep Tight showed it can still be well written this movie however fell short there. If you liked this movie or just want something similar try Sleep Tight instead. If The Resident is a 5.5/10, Sleep Tight is 9/10.

I have to admit i wasn't blown away by the film, but saying that it kept my attention from start to end and was watchable. Swank was excellent as the new resident of a seemingly cheap flat. She undoubtedly is a fantastic actress and she truly came alive in this film.

You pretty much know whats going to happen about 30 minutes in, as this kind of voyeuristic thriller has been done on countless occasions. But it bounces along at a rapid pace and without the audience getting bored.

Overall a good 7/10.

I expected Hilary Swank to produce so much better, but this film was merely a vehicle for her to show off her body which is a surprise from an Oscar-winning actress.

The direction and atmosphere was suspenseful, but the lack of depth to the plot and narrative was such a disappointment given such good production. There are unanswered questions and missed opportunities which are hugely frustrating given the quality of filming.

I was glad not to have watched this in a cinema because I would have felt trapped and assaulted to have sat all the way through the chasing and fighting in the last 20 minutes. As it was, with control of the fast forward, I could skip the repetitive hide and seek.

There was no satisfying explanation for this perverted stalking landlord choosing his tenant, and no intelligent reason for wanting to watch until the end, unless you just enjoy gratuitous violence.

Suitable for post-pub group viewing, Resident is fine for mindless scares; but the lack of whodunnit and whydunnit just leaves the viewer wondering why did I watch it.