Another film that telegraphs its surprises is Intrusion, a rather slow-paced drama-turned-suspense film from last year.  Very few things are as intense or frightening as a home invasion, as anyone who has ever experienced one can testify.  The dramatic possibilities created for empathic characters are endless, as many classic and non-classic films have demonstrated over the years.  This film fumbles the ball, with clumsy writing and a distinct lack of believability failing to take advantage of a decent, chilling premise.

Adam Salky’s story has a young couple transplanted from city living to the New Mexico desert, where a custom-built house promises a new beginning.  Henry Parsons (Logan Marshall-Green) is an architect who has designed the house; his wife Meera (Freida Pinto) works as a therapeutic counselor.  A break-in at their house bothers Meera more than her husband; when it happens again and takes a deadly turn, Meera is badly shaken.  Her search for answers leads her into greater danger than she has ever faced before.

The premise works pretty well, despite the pokey pace and an increasing number of odd moments that just don’t feel right.  Part of that is deliberate, as Meera is meant to feel disconnected and isolated by the goings-on.  But there was a moment before the halfway mark when suddenly everything became crystal clear to me, and the rest of the movie felt utterly anticlimactic as Meera finally pieces together what is really happening in her own home.  It’s a rough ride when the viewer knows what is going to happen and the characters have to fumble around toward the truth, slowly and painfully.  A better film would have kept the surprise longer and then revealed it with far more power and impact.

I give the film credit for its audaciousness and willingness to embrace a plot some will consider unlikely, or downright unbelievable.  It’s nice to see Freida Pinto get a role that demands some real acting chops.  Unfortunately, her vision of Meera is so mousy that she is unable to allow Meera’s most basic survival instincts full freedom.  The conclusion needs a harsher, more vigorous emphasis than it receives.  Intrusion could have been a very solid thriller, but it’s a disappointment.  ☆ ☆.  23 May 2022.