Intruders
By Jeffrey Anderson,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Moody, complex horror-drama has children in peril.

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What's the Story?
In Spain, a boy (Izan Corchero) who loves monster stories experiences an attack by a real-life monster; a faceless intruder tries to choke his mom and take the boy away. In England, a girl (Ella Purnell) finds a written story about a monster called Hollow Face, in a tree trunk. She, too, receives a visit from the faceless creature, who's apparently trying to steal children's faces to complete its own. The Spanish mother (Pilar Lopez de Ayala) and English father (Clive Owen) do everything in their power to save their children. The mother asks for help from the church, and the father installs a security system. Ultimately, though, it's a problem that can only be solved by all the characters searching within themselves.
Is It Any Good?
INTRUDERS is a moody, spooky movie. In appearances at various film festivals, it met with disappointment from horror fans who demand that supernatural horror (ghosts and monsters) and realistic horror (like The Silence of the Lambs) remain separate. But by combining the two types, celebrated Spanish director Juan Carlos Fresnadillo has created a fascinating hybrid.
To that end, the movie raises issues of identity, family, and the concept of fear itself. (Where does scary stuff come from?) A "twist" ending generally seems to disappoint horror fans, but it makes sense and is perfectly acceptable. Fresnadillo perhaps keeps the movie a bit too literally dark (doesn't anyone ever turn on the lights?), and some supporting characters don't have much weight, but overall, this is an effective, unique movie.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how scary the movie is. What were the scariest parts? Is it actually a horror movie, or is it more like a drama about families in trouble?
How do the mother and son relate to each other in the Spanish story? What about the father and daughter in the English story? Do the parents believe their children's stories? How do they try to help their children? Would you have behaved differently?
Is this a supernatural horror movie or a realistic one? Is it a combination of the two? What's good and/or bad about a combination or a hybrid?
What did you think of the "twist" ending? Did it make sense? Was it rewarding?
Movie Details
- In theaters: March 30, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: July 17, 2012
- Cast: Carice Van Houten, Clive Owen, Pilar Lopez de Ayala
- Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
- Studio: Millennium Entertainment
- Genre: Horror
- Run time: 100 minutes
- MPAA rating: R
- MPAA explanation: terror, horror violence, some sexuality/nudity and language
- Last updated: January 24, 2023
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