Intruders

Movie review by Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media
Intruders Poster Image

Common Sense says

age 17+

Moody, complex horror-drama has children in peril.

R 2012 100 minutes
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Parents say

age 15+

Based on 1 review

Kids say

age 17+

Based on 1 review

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A Lot or a Little?

The parents' guide to what's in this movie.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Intruders is a spooky drama with horror overtones that tells intertwining stories about a mysterious, faceless intruder attacking a young boy in Spain and a young girl in England. Intruders is more moody than violent, but it does have some scary/upsetting images of children in jeopardy, as well as some fighting and a woman being choked. There are also some nightmarish, horror-style scares. There's one scene of sexuality with kissing; a fully naked woman is shown. Language is infrequent but includes more than one use of "f--k."

Community Reviews

sarjai B.
sarjai B. Adult
November 4, 2017
age 15+
very sexual as my friends say but i have not yet seen the movie

This title has:

Too much sex
Too much swearing
See all 1 parent review

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

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