‘The Intruder’ Review: Perfect B-Movie Experience

The Intruder may not be a good movie, but at the very least it’s an entertaining one. That’s mostly due to Dennis Quaid’s unhinged performance, which is over-the-top in the best way possible. Just don’t expect the psychological thriller to win any awards or elevate the genre; it’s the perfect B-movie experience.

Scott (Michael Ealy) and Annie (Meagan Good) Howard are looking to move out of the busy city and into the country to start their family, and they believe they’ve found the perfect home in Nappa Valley. Charlie Peck’s (Dennis Quaid) family build the grandiose residence, but he feels a special connection with Scott and Annie and agrees to sell it to them. What feels like a dream come true soon turns into the couple’s worst nightmare as Charlie continues unexpectedly showing up. Perhaps he isn’t quite ready to part ways with his house just yet.

To be honest, The Intruder isn’t all that scary or psychological; it’s actually quite humorous given how outlandish Quaid is in the role. This is the kind of movie you put on the television with a big group of friends and laugh at how ridiculous everything is. Charlie’s introduction is him shooting a deer in the face with a rifle, asking the horrified Howards if they like venison. His actions fit his character perfect, but you still can’t help but laugh at him.

What keeps the film from being better is how stupid the other characters act. Like most conventional horror or thriller films, the main characters are always in service to the bad guy. The Intruder is no different, and Scott and Annie are merely stepping stones for Charlie to hop on. They make some pretty stupid, yell at your screen, choices throughout the film, especially when it comes to how easily Annie lets Charlie into the house. By the end of the film, you may be actively rooting for Charlie to win.

But that’s all part of the fun of The Intruder. It embraces it’s B-movie status with Dennis Quaid acting more like Randy Quaid all for a hearty laugh. It’s an absolutely bonkers film, yet is surprisingly entertaining.