Shubhabrata Dutta
Home is supposed to be the place where you feel the safest, which is what makes home invasions scarier. The universal fear that someone will break into our house makes the movies of the home invasion sub-genre more thrilling than other movies because when we imagine ourselves in those situations, a sense of panic and thrill creeps up into our minds. In these movies, homes turn into battlegrounds where everyone is tested on how far they would go to protect the place they call home. Ordinary people become heroes to protect the ones they love and also for their own survival. So, if you want to put yourself in the shoes of someone tackling a home invasion, you just need to shut the doors, turn off the lights, put on your headphones, go to Netflix, and watch the movies listed below.
11. You’re Next (2011)
A family reunion turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse in Adam Wingard’s slasher film ‘You’re Next.’ As Erin (Sharni Vinson), her boyfriend, Crispian (A. J. Bowen), and Crispian’s family celebrate together at a vacation home, a group of masked assailants break into the house and start killing them one by one in a brutal manner. Erin seems to have survival skills and is the only one who can take the killers on. The question is: Is she enough? A gory film with pitch-black humor at its core, ‘You’re Next’ offers an entertaining watch, especially for those who love slasher flicks. It can be streamed here.
10. Get In (2019)
This French drama, directed by Olivier Abbou, offers a whole new angle on home invasion horror. The film follows the Diallo family, which is left without a house after two squatters, to whom they had left the house before going on a holiday, refuse to leave. Paul (Adama Niane), his wife Chloe (Stéphane Caillard), and their two sons take shelter in their motorhome at an abandoned campsite that also has other occupants. Mickey (Paul Hamy), the campsite owner, slowly starts manipulating Paul into claiming what is rightfully his by whatever means necessary. But when the insouciant and anarchic Mickey realizes that Paul would rather be a victim, he decides to take control of the situation, much to Paul and Chloe’s horror. What follows is Mickey and his gang revealing their grotesque sides, breaking into the Diallo household and attacking the squatters, and even Paul and Chloe, having sadistic fun all the while. Whether the Diallo family gets its house back or dies in the process is what we find out in this deeply psychological and dark drama. You can watch ‘Get In’ here.
9. I Came By (2022)
Sometimes, a break-in takes a toll on the burglar. In ‘I Came By,’ we meet 23-year-old graffiti artist Toby Nealey (George MacKay), who has a rather weird hobby. As a form of rebellion, he breaks into the houses of upper-class people, draws ‘I Came By’ on a wall, and leaves. But when he breaks into the house of his latest target, retired High Court Judge Sir Hector Blake (Hugh Bonneville), who he believes is a hypocrite, he finds an imprisoned man in the basement. Is this man an enemy of Blake? Or is he one among many? What secret is Blake hiding? There are a lot of questions and Toby might just be risking his life if he returns to Blake’s place for answers. Will he do it? To find out, you can watch ‘I Came By,’ directed by Babak Anvari, right here.
8. Windfall (2022)
Directed by Charlie McDowell, ‘Windfall’ is a crime thriller featuring an ensemble cast that includes Jason Segel, Lily Collins, and Jesse Plemons. The plot unfolds around a tech billionaire’s vacation home, which becomes an unexpected battleground when a man breaks in, intending to exploit its emptiness, only to find himself facing the arrogant mogul and his wife, who arrive for a last-minute getaway, leading to an unexpected and tense confrontation. You can watch the movie here.
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7. The Babysitter (2017)
‘The Babysitter,’ directed by McG, is a stellar home-intrusion horror film that keeps viewers on the edge of their seats. The plot centers on Cole (Judah Lewis), a teenager who discovers that his attractive babysitter, Bee (Samara Weaving), and her friends are part of a sinister satanic cult. The film artfully combines dark humor with intense suspense, offering a unique twist on the home invasion genre. McG’s skillful direction and the cast’s strong performances, including Bella Thorne and Robbie Amell, create a chilling atmosphere, while the film’s ability to balance horror and humor makes it a standout in the genre, delivering both thrills and laughs in equal measure. You may watch the movie here.
6. Gerald’s Game (2017)
‘Gerald’s Game’ is a psychological horror based on a novel by Stephen King. It tells the story of a couple who go on a retreat to a faraway place on an isolated boathouse. Everything seems to be going well till the couple decides to spice things up, and Gerald, who is the husband, handcuffs his wife to the bed frame. But he suddenly gets a heart attack, and he dies, leaving his wife all alone, tied up to the bed frame with nowhere else to go. This movie is not just any other home invasion movie but the impact of one’s mind in such a situation. It shows how sometimes it’s not an intruder who invades your home but your mind and thoughts that can keep you trapped. You will be more entertained by the film if you haven’t read the book because that might just raise your expectations of the whole story to a whole new unreachable level. But even if you have read the book, there will be times when you’ll get the ”Stephen King feels.” Feel free to check out the movie here.
5. There’s Someone Inside Your House (2021)
Based on Stephanie Perkins’s horror novel of the same name, ‘There’s Someone Inside Your House’ is a slasher movie directed by Patrick Brice. The Sydney Park and Théodore Pellerin-starrer follows Makani Young, a high schooler who moves from Hawaii to a small town in Nebraska to live with her grandmother. She enrolls in Osborne High School, where the graduating class is being targeted by an unknown assailant who is determined not only to kill but also expose the dark secrets of his victims. With their lives on the line, Makani joins hands with other students of her age to stop the ruthless murderer before it’s too late. You can check out the film here to find out what happens.
4. The Open House (2018)
Starring Dylan Minnette from ‘13 Reasons Why‘ and the rock band ‘Wallows,’ this movie tells the story of a young boy, Logan, who moves into a new house with his mother after the death of his father in a car accident. But strange things start happening inside the house, which initially seems exciting to them. But soon, everything starts to amplify, and the presence in the home makes them question their sanity. The movie wasn’t received well by most people who watched it and is surely not among the best on this list. But it still has a decent cast and can be watched once if you’re just looking for something to fill in your time. You can watch it here.
3. Mercy (2016)
‘Mercy’ tells the story of four brothers who return home after ages to say their final farewell to their sick mother. But as they spend more time with their dying mother, her hidden motives start to resurface. While the secrets of her past unleash through the night, the bonds of the family with each other are put to an ultimate test and reach a point where the four brothers are forced to fight for their survival. The movie has some good twists along the way and a good conclusion at the end. Overall, it’s worth a one-time watch that you can experience here.
2. Creep (2014)
Directed and co-written by Patrick Brice, ‘Creep’ is a psychological horror movie inspired by ‘Fatal Attraction,’ ‘Dinner with Andre,’ and ‘Misery.’ The film revolves around a cash-strapped videographer named Aaron, who takes a freelancing opportunity that can earn him $1,000 in a single day. His client Josef lives in the remote mountains, and when Aaron begins to help him with his project, everything seems to be normal. His client wants to make a film for his unborn child, and the protagonist is more than happy to be on the board until his demands begin to take an unexpected turn. You can stream the film here.
1. Intrusion (2021)
Directed by Adam Salky, the horror thriller ‘Intrusion’ stars Freida Pinto and Logan Marshall-Green as a couple who fall prey to a chilling home invasion. The plot unfolds as they move to a secluded dream house, only to confront a nightmarish intrusion by a mysterious assailant. This film effectively taps into the classic home intrusion horror subgenre, delivering tension and suspense that keeps viewers on edge. It skillfully explores the vulnerability of domestic spaces and the fear of invasion, making it a standout in the genre. With a strong cast and the director’s adept handling of suspense, ‘Intrusion’ is a gripping and unsettling experience for fans of home invasion horror. You can stream it here.
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