Intruder (2016)
Matt Boiselle
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Starring Louise Linton, John Robinson, Moby
Directed by Travis Zariwny
Eyes upon you is certainly an unsettling feeling – to know that someone might be giving you the hard stare out in public is enough to make one’s blood boil, but if that person has somehow made it into your home without your knowledge, checking you out while you slept… would that give you the chills? It’s the closeness that’s the worst part, and that is exactly what director Travis Zariwny uses as a centerpiece in his latest thriller, Intruder.
The question remains for audiences: “Will it be well received or viewed as derivative in nature?” Only time will tell, kiddies, but in the meantime follow me, and I’ll give you my take on this one.
Louise Linton plays the title character (also serving as producer) of this skin-crawler; her name is Elizabeth, and her budding career as a concert cellist has earned her a new job. Her celebratory break involves her holing up in her apartment for a little rest and relaxation. Here’s the rub: Someone who has a vested interest in her life has worked his way into her place (on a daily basis, I might add), and the results are fairly distressing, with so many close calls of him being in a room while she’s in the next one over or under her bed while she sleeps… even sitting right next to her playing with her hair as she sleeps (man, I’d kill to be able to sleep quite so soundly).
He pokes, prods, taste-tests things in her fridge, and even relieves himself in her sink – it’s like the houseguest from hell, only he wasn’t invited! With so many near-misses, one could certainly question how Elizabeth could not know that there was a creeper in her small apartment, but here in movie-land anything is possible.
Linton shines in her role as the woman all alone and plays up the unknowing and at times completely oblivious victim – you’ll wish on one hand that she turns around, and at times you’ll pray that she doesn’t. Introductory characters are thrown into the mix along the way to give you pieces to the puzzle of “which one of these guys could it be?,” and while the wait at times can be a bit tedious and stretched out, the payoff is acceptable, yet slightly depressing (look, Ma, no spoilers).
Zariwny keeps the dialogue within earshot and the tension closer to the skin than a cheap condom. It’s a fun watch, especially if you or the one you’re with has an aversion to white-knuckled situations, for it can be amusing to watch them squirm.
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Film
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