Poor Dennis Quaid! To see the actor gnashing his teeth and rolling his eyes in this beyond predictable home invasion tale is rather sad. Here he plays Charlie Peck, who sells his beautiful home in Napa Valley to Annie and Scott, a couple who have made it in the city and are now looking to move to the country.
Scott wears glasses and is in advertising while Annie works from home writing for magazines. You know something is off when Charlie’s introduction shot is him shooting a pretty deer dead. The couple, however, do not think so and don’t wise up to Charlie’s wicked intentions forever—which is super frustrating. There is some backstory for Annie and Scott, with some therapy mentioned but it goes nowhere like the rest of this film.
- Director: Deon Taylor
- Cast: Michael Ealy, Meagan Good, Dennis Quaid
- Story line: A couple’s dream home turns into a nightmare thanks to the previous owner
- Run time: 102 minutes
There is an inexplicable lack of use of technology. In these days of AI dictating every aspect of our lives, it is strange that Annie and Scott don’t think of some hi-tech kind of gate keeper—maybe a T 800 or something to keep evil ex-owner out of the house. And if you want to take the luddite route, then you need a Jack Reacher. The minute you see Scott’s aversion to guns you know how the movie is going to end.
The idea of someone in your home, invading your castle is creepy if done well. This is not that film. If you want to go down the sociological path of subverting race relations you could, but that would be giving The Intruder more heft than it deserves.
It would be better to take home improvement tips from the lovely home (no basements and linen cupboards though) or watch Dennis Quaid in The Legion , which was such fun with Paul Bettany as archangel Michael and that dear, razor-toothed old lady who spider walks on the ceiling.
