This week we are taking a look at the grocery store slasher released by Wizard Entertainment and directed by Scott Spiegel: Intruder!
Intruder was Scott Spiegel's directorial debut and was loosely based off of Spiegel's experiences working as a stock boy at a real grocery store in Michigan. Intruder was also an adaption of a short film that Spiegel had directed previously: The Night Crew.
Jennifer, the cashier, has an ex-boyfriend named Craig and he isn't leaving until Jennifer agrees to take him back. When he assaults multiple of the night crew members he is thrown out on the street. On top of that the store managers share the bad news that the market is closing in a month and the crew will need to work over-time to mark down all the items to half-price.
Things go back to normal as the night crew goes about their duties. But when someone sinister sneaks into the store the employees begin to die off one by one. Blood and body parts become the new hot ticket item for sale at the Walnut Lake Market.
The other actors are also fairly strong and bring some fun to the stereotypes of the slasher genre. The finally girl, Jennifer, gives a good performance despite a few awkward hiccups in her acting here and there.
What really makes this movie stand out is its combination of atmosphere and creative gore. Never once does Intruder shy away from a sick kill scene. The trash compactor, butcher knives, industrial meat slicers, meat hooks, and more are all used in Intruder without apology.
The atmosphere Spiegel creates of working the late night shift at the supermarket is something anyone who has worked in retail will relate to. Those large grocery and department stores can get pretty creepy after hours. The fact that this the store in the movie is a small-town rundown grocery store, really adds to the creep factor. There are all kinds of creepy nooks and crannies all over the store as you would expect in an older building. Anyone growing up in the 80s or 90s will recognize and relate to the old food brands and shopping styles.
Lastly, all of the gore and atmosphere are accented by some interesting cinematography. Scott Spiegel never shied away from a creative or interesting camera shot. This knack for good cinematography added to the chills and accented the kills.
Summing it Up
Deaths: 8
Language: 3
Gore Factor: 5
Sex Factor: 1
Scare Factor: 4
Fun Factor: 5
Overall Rating: 5