Starring Clive Owen and Carice van Houten. Directed by Juan Carlos Fresnadillo. 100 minutes. 14A
What should have been a preface in the film itself was Juan Carlos Fresnadillo's introduction prior to the film: it's a film about how fears get passed down through generations. That's exactly what Intruders is about. While it's also about faceless, hooded intruders swooping through windows and lurking in closets, it's also a lot deeper, about the roots of terror and how tightly those roots hold you.
The story is told through two narratives: the first, a Spanish-speaking boy (Izán Corchero) who writes horror stories, and the second through a father (Clive Owen) and his daughter (Ella Purnell) who suffers from nightmares. The horror is carefully crafted, focussing on chilling details in creaks and shadows. The acting is convincing, particularly from the younger cast, Corchero and Purnell, whose expressions draw you in.
Although this film was a bit predictable, the story was whole, which when compared to other horrors with similar themes (ie. Vanishing on 7th Street, Boogeyman) calls for recognition. And the reminder of Pan's Labyrinth, linking to childhood fears and imagination, was nice too. But not nice enough. B
