When I first saw the trailer for Intruders, I was immediately intrigued by the concept. The film looked as if it would be a great home invasion flick in a similar vein to You’re Next. While the beginning of the film certainly takes on the typical troupes of a cat and mouse thriller, things quickly change into something entirely new and fresh.

The film follows Anna (Beth Riesgraf), a young woman who suffers from agoraphobia (fear of the outside). Her phobia is so crippling that when a trio of criminals break into her house, she cannot even flee the property. However, what the Intruders fail to realize is that agoraphobia is not her only psychosis, and this is not an ordinary house. They soon get trapped in a basement that is designed with ill intentions, and as the story continues, the purpose behind the basement is eventually revealed.

For a film with such a complex story line and so many key characters, first time director Adam Schindler handles it very well. The camera movement is fluid as Schindler takes us on a cat and mouse chase throughout the entire house. Schindler makes good use of the entire camera frame. When one person enters the frame, another exits behind it. Schindler does a great job of creating suspense when necessary, and manages to maintain a steady pace all the while. Aside from the strong directing, Intruders is also glued together by a strong ensemble cast. Beth Riesgraf as the leading lady, Anna, has the ability to play a delicate and broken woman who can snap on the flick of a switch. Her performance is strong willed without seeming too overpowering or excessively unrealistic, and the trio of intruders do exactly what their roles call for. They’re creepy and invasive. Even Rory Culkin (Scream 4), while a bit hard to place at first, plays an integral part in how our events unfold.

If you think Intruders is a standard copy/paste home invasion revenge thriller… think again. The purpose behind the twisted basement is far more than a security measure. It is used a corrective measure, and in accordance to the story, it can be difficult to pick a side. The lines blur between antagonist and protagonist. Is it Anna versus the intruders, or the other way around? This is part of the guessing game that makes Intruders such a intriguing film.

As an audience member, Intruders will keep you on the edge of your seat, guessing in suspense at what moments are to come. It’s an unpredictable film that pulls you in quickly and keeps you hooked. Definitely worth a watch.

Intruders is now available on VOD.

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