Inside (2007)
Associated with New French Extremity, Inside received mainstream critical acclaim, and Bloody Disgusting even gave it the highest score — 5 out of 5 stars. Sarah is a pregnant widow whose delivery is scheduled for the following day. An unknown woman knocks on her door for assistance, and Sarah pieces together that she’s being stalked. That night, the stranger awakens her…with scissors. Inside is a harrowing fight for survival — not only for Sarah, but for her baby and the last piece of comfort left in her world. Dread Central said, “The film may be cruel, but it’s executed with pure artistry. Haunting images carry their own grotesque beauty and there is real emotional depth anchored by a pair of powerhouse performances by the dueling ladies.”
Funny Games (2007)
Funny Games is a viscerally upsetting film that refuses to abide by cinematic rules — and it isn’t actually meant to be horror. Michael Haneke intended to shine a spotlight on the voyeuristic pleasures of consuming violent media — and violent it is. Haneke first made Funny Games a decade before in Austria; the 2007 version is a shot-for-shot remake in English. During a stay at their lake house, a family of three ends up with unwelcome guests. The villains, Peter and Paul, bet the family that they won’t survive until the following morning. Ringleader Paul breaks the fourth wall on multiple occasions — by directly involving the viewer, we take on a role of complicity. The film wasn’t well-received by critics, many of whom consider it torture porn. But one thing is certain—it’s unlike any other home-invasion movie you’ll see.
The Strangers (2008)
The beauty of The Strangers is that it doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel or tantalize viewers with gimmicks — it’s incredibly simple in both its storytelling and action. The audience sees very few glimpses into the characters’ lives with the exception of the first scene — after a friend’s wedding reception, Kristen rejects James’s proposal. The disappointed couple arrives at James’s secluded family summer home where they’re staying for the night. The mounting tension between the main characters is broken by a knock at the door. The front porch light won’t turn on, and an eerie figure stands in the darkness. “Is Tamara home?” the woman asks. They tell her she has the wrong house, then go back to their night, but it becomes apparent that they were never alone. For a movie of this subgenre, The Strangers doesn’t depict gratuitous violence. Most of the interaction from the intruders is seen only by the viewer as they skulk in the background watching their victims and waiting for them to make a break. What makes The Strangers most unsettling is the fact that Kristen and James were random targets. In the film’s opening credits, we hear the rumbling of a truck engine and a POV shot of the houses as it drives by — they could have picked anybody.
The Collector (2009)
The Collector didn’t receive favorable reviews from critics, but since its release in 2009 it’s gained a cult following. The main character, Arkin, is a former convict who now works as a contractor for a wealthy family. When Arkin’s wife tells him that loan sharks are after her and their daughter, he hatches a plan to crack his employer’s safe while they’re out of town. Arkin quickly discovers that he’s not the only one breaking into the home that night — and the other intruder has far worse intentions. The Collector was initially pitched as a prequel in the Saw franchise, and it’s easy to see the similarities between the two. As in Jigsaw, this cunning killer sets elaborate traps for his prey — the difference, however, is that he doesn’t intend to teach them any lessons or offer a chance at survival. The death scenes are certainly unique and brutal — best suited for those who can stomach splatter films.
Obsessed (2009)
Beyoncé Knowles starred in this psychological thriller with Idris Elba and Ali Larter. Knowles and Elba played a married couple, Derek and Sharon Charles, who are targeted by Derek’s new assistant, Lisa (Larter). Lisa has a romantic obsession with Derek and goes to great lengths to break the couple up, including breaking into their home.
Retreat (2011)
An unhappy couple, Martin and Kate, go to a remote island on the west coast of Scotland to have a vacation at a cottage there. When the generator dies a few days later, the couple is unable to get a hold of anyone from the mainland. Shortly afterward a man washes up on shore and accosts the couple at the cottage. He insists that he be allowed in and that an airborne virus has devastated the world in the few days since the couple has been out of communication. Martin and Kate have to decide whether they believe the man is telling the truth.
Silent House (2011)
Starring Elizabeth Olsen, Silent House utilizes a faux long shot to keep viewers on their toes. Her character, Sarah, is staying at the family’s summer home while her father and uncle fix it up to sell. A young woman shows up at the door claiming to be Sarah’s childhood friend, but she has no recollection of her. Not long after, Sarah realizes her family isn’t alone in the house. As we follow Olsen’s character in real time, the tension builds even more effectively without cuts or scene transitions. Film School Rejects put Silent House on their list of most underrated horror movies of the 21st century.
Straw Dogs (2011)
A Los Angeles screenwriter, David (James Marsden), and his wife Amy (Kate Bosworth) relocate to the rural Mississippi. Local Charlie (Alexander Skarsgård) is angry that Amy married David over him and bullies David relentlessly. Tensions rise and eventually culminate in a violent home invasion.
You’re Next (2011)
A dysfunctional family must band together when their reunion is interrupted by a murderous attack. Calling the shots is Erin, a woman on a trip to meet her boyfriend’s family for the first time. While she is setting up traps around the house, we learn that Erin grew up in a survivalist compound where her dad taught her combat and general survival skills. As the story unfolds, we watch as Erin becomes the competent fighter we so rarely see in horror movies — but there are still a few tricks up the film’s sleeve. You’re Next was directed by Adam Wingard, who did V/H/S the following year. It has a prominent cast of Mumblegore icons: Ti West, Joe Swanberg, and A.J. Bowen. Empire gave it 4 out of 5 stars and critic David Hughes said, “Wingard is on his way to becoming the next Sam Raimi.”
In Their Skin (2012)
Grieving the loss of their six-year-old daughter, the Hughes family heads to their cottage for a break. An awkward encounter with the neighbors escalates to a deadly invasion. The Hugheses discover that their neighbors plan to steal their identities, longing to be a “perfect family” just like them. Critic Dustin Putman awarded it 3 out of 4 stars and said, “In Their Skin ranks up there with 2008’s The Strangers and 2007’s Funny Games in terms of its jittery, supremely uncomfortable potency.”
Static (2012)
Acclaimed author Jonathan and his wife Addie are trying to reconnect after the loss of their son. However, their plans are interrupted when a panicked woman shows up at their door saying that she’s being followed. It doesn’t take long for the previously mentioned stalkers to catch up and attack all three occupants. In his review, Adam Lowes of Cinevue remarked, “The ending carefully explains some of the strange quirks from earlier on in the tale, and the film as a whole manages to add something fresh to this over-familiar sub-genre.”
The Call (2013)
In the suspenseful opening scene we meet 911 operator Jordan Turner (Halle Berry) as she answers a call from a distraught teen during a home invasion. When the line is disconnected, Jordan calls back giving away the girl’s location. The intruder picks up the phone and ignores Jordan’s pleas to leave the girl alone, telling her “It’s already done”. Later, Jordan learns that the girl was murdered and switches jobs so that she no longer personally answers calls but instead trains new operators. When one of her trainees gets a call from another teen girl (Casey Welson, played by Abigail Breslin) who has been abducted in a mall parking lot and is calling from the trunk of her abductors car. Jordan takes over the call and is desperate to save Casey’s life to make up for her earlier mistake.
The Purge (2013)
This film was the catalyst for the highly successful Purge franchise. For anyone unfamiliar with the series, it takes place in 2022 on the night of the 5th Annual Purge. The country is governed by the New Founding Fathers of America, a political organization voted into office after years of high poverty and unemployment. The NFFA’s solution to lower crime rates was to allow one night per year where all crime was legal for 12 hours. The original Purge focuses on Ethan Hawke, who plays a well-off father and husband that sells security systems. When his son Charlie sees a lone victim fleeing a crowd of Purgers, he deactivates the system and offers the injured man refuge. Hawke’s character scrambles to find the man and protect his family against the gang as they threaten to force their way into the home. James DeMonaco, the writer and director, didn’t intend for a home-invasion setting when he first dreamed up the concept, but the constraints of a $3-million budget forced his hand. Considering its low budget, The Purge did very well in the box office, and the franchise has grossed over $446 million.
Home Sweet Home (2013)
After arriving home from date night, a married couple becomes trapped by a depraved masked killer. Home Sweet Home has a slow setup before we get to the action, but the film’s backdrop is very realistic, which makes it all the more disturbing. The intruder remains silent and we never find out his motivation — but his identity will definitely shock you.
Torment (2013)
Creepily masked with the heads of large stuffed animals, the invaders in this movie are on a mission to make their own demented family — and kill anyone in their way. Canadian scream queen Katharine Isabelle stars as Sarah, a newlywed who’s forced to protect her stepson on a trip to their vacation home. Fearnet and Bloody Disgusting both praised the film, with reviewer Patrick Cooper saying, “Torment just looks really damn good. The pace is relentless, the atmosphere is eerie, and thankfully Barker relies more on actual suspense than gore to set the tone.”
Mischief Night (2014)
A high-school senior named Kaylie spends the night before Halloween babysitting. The initial setup might sound overdone as we learn that a masked man is prowling around the house waiting to strike — there’s even a cameo from Halloween’s Malcolm McDowell — but as the movie progresses it takes a very unexpected turn. Ain’t It Cool News remarked, “It’s tough to combine multiple genres in a way that simultaneously feels both fresh and familiar — the plot will keep you guessing until the end.”
Intruders (2015)
Intruders follows Anna, an agoraphobic woman grieving the loss of her brother, Conrad, who succumbs to cancer. On the day of Conrad’s funeral, she prepares to leave her home for the first time in years — but she can’t bring herself to do it. Assuming Anna won’t be home, a trio of thieves breaks in after learning of her considerable wealth, but things become complicated as the unmasked assailants discover the occupant. At one point, Anna has a chance to make a run for the door — but even in the midst of a home invasion, her fear of the outside world is crippling. This sets a unique boundary for the film, as most horror-movie victims spend the bulk of their screen time doing anything they can to escape. Then the film flips its premise — Anna, who up until this point has come across as fragile and debilitated, has a stockpile of dark secrets. And soon you realize why the house is her safe place.
