Intruders (2011)

Nice effects though.

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Just intense enough to provide a much-needed diversion, just lightweight enough to make you forget about it soon after it’s over. It’s not exactly “good,” per se, but it does what it sets out to do in terms of putting us on edge, which makes it … successful?

If you like to be scared, if you like to laugh, and if you like to learn a thing or two at the movies, this absolutely cannot be missed.

Good horror/thriller movie made better by new comer Ella Purnell as Mia. Mia finds an old page hidden in a tree. It tells the story of a faceless man named "Hollow Face" who wants to steal the face of a young boy...or girl. She rewrites the story as her own for school and ends up scaring herself with it.Meanwhile there is a young boy in Spain who also is dealing with Hollow Face. While in England they consult professionals, in Spain they consult the church. Ella Purnell reminds me of a young creepy Christina Ricci. The movie takes a twist which I loved.It would make a great horror film for kids if not for the 3-4 F-bombs and brief nudity (Carice van Houten).

This was an intense movie if for anything the sheer mysteriousness and eeriness of "Hollowface"."Intruders" was a bit confusing to start because there were two stories seemingly running congruently; one with a little Spanish boy and the other with a British girl. The one common theme between the two was Hollowface, a faceless creature seeking to steal the faces of the two protagonists.The two stories were woven together well. The movie kept you in the dark as to what was really going on up until the end. There were some serious intense moments and some creepy hair-raising moments. The performances were good and it was a solid production.

Two children, one in Spain, the other in England, are experiencing terrifying visits by the same demon who wants to possess them. The only viable link is that both children are writing a story...A joint Spanish/English language production, Intruders is the sort of frustrating picture that has big and bold ideas on the page, but sadly on the screen in unfolds laboriously as it bites off more than it can chew. It came as no surprise to myself to find that upon opening internet sites frequented by horror fans, Intruders has greatly disappointed them. It's rarely frightening, sags desperately in the middle section, the pay off is weak, and ultimately it only skirts the boundaries of being a "horror" film.So, the lack of shocks and suspense in bona fide horror terms needs to be tempered with genre expectation levels, this is more a family drama with fantastical horror elements lurking around the edges of the frame. This of course doesn't help anyone, like myself, who has bought into plot synopsis and the marketing strategy that accompanied the picture, but if able to see past the faceless demon that appears occasionally and promises something else? There's a decent and honest adult film pulsing away here.Clive Owen plays the troubled father of the piece and he once again, as he did in Trust, shows that given this type of material he can deliver a performance of emotional substance. He's backed up by a very strong turn from young Ella Purnell as his daughter, and with the tech credits high - most notably Roque Baños' superb musical score - there is much to enjoy here. But as thoughtful as it is, and as solid as the film makers credentials are, its reputation is unlikely to be enhanced anytime soon. 6.5/10

I read so much criticism of this film that I didn't watch it for at least a year. Like most people I sometimes allow too much weight to the opinions of others, no matter how hard I might resist. Finally, I did watch it and I was quite impressed. I suppose I could say 'don't trust the reviews of others' and then expect you to trust me and be instantly conflicted! Instead, let me say that the performances are strong, the direction is crisp, the camera work is way above par, the story advances nicely and only at the end, when the music overpowers the narration that ties a bow on the whole thing, does the editing stumble. But, please forgive that stumbling as I do now when I rate this one a 7 and encourage you to let it play out and get to that end. This isn't a horror film as we understand that genre to be in current terms. It is a suspense film, however. And, it has marvelous supernatural elements that dance across any size screen to hold one's attention. All the major players are well-cast and do fine jobs. In particular, another strong movie for Clive. clearly his best since The International. And, special notice for Ms. Purnell. Not to be too excessive, but at times I saw in her a very young Genevieve Bujold in the way the camera loved her. What else can I say? Don't trust others, like I did? How about this: trust me, this is a movie worth your time.