An Intrusion lives up to its title in a number of different ways, with the plot of the film being about a home invasion and the sound design of the film including quite a few interruptions of jarring music and sounds that make one want to grind their teeth in agony. What’s more, this film has intruded my mind, as I will be thinking about the twists, turns, and breakdowns that drove every scene of this film to the emotional limit. Written and directed by Nicholas Holland, An Intrusion has an all-star cast that includes indie stars as well as a cameo by the likes of Billy Boyd (Lord of the Rings) in a nearly unrecognizable performance.

Sam (Dustin Prince) has it all — a loving wife named Joyce (Erika Hoveland), an independent daughter named Rebecca (Angelina Danielle Cama), a great job, and a beautiful home — but with his personality, he wanted more, and found himself in an affair with a coworker. When one day he receives an email that threatens to reveal his double life, Sam finds that it won’t be as simple as paying off his blackmailer, who wants more than just money. Sam and his family are subsequently subjected to harassment in the form of break-ins, bloody and cryptic messages, and then finally, physical attacks, as whoever is stalking them sets their plan of revenge into motion to shine a light on dark secrets from the past that have been allowed to fester.

Nicholas Holland had a cast that boasted wide emotional ranges, and with his exceptionally written script, the cast was able to fully realize their characters’ motivations, mannerisms, and meltdowns — each character felt developed and every actor delivered a hard-hitting portrayal of their respective roles. Dustin Prince arguably had the greatest load to carry and he did so in a perfectly unhinged performance as the flawed but relatable protagonist. Further speaking to the film’s hard-hitting nature, An Intrusion was much gorier than expected, its thrilling scenes often being topped off by some kind of near-fatal scuffle.

With the premise of the story involving secrets and lies, the film quickly descends into a mystery, which heightens the film’s already emotional scenes with a thick layer of anticipation of some impending betrayal. An Intrusion is the kind of suffocation that I like, its narrative clenched its fingers around me and forced my eyes open. Though I can’t say that it is quite on the same level writing and acting-wise, An Intrusion had a similar feel to Uncut Gems or American Beauty, only a tad bit bloodier and grittier.

Nicholas Holland penned a thrilling narrative that set walls caving in on its protagonist, and since the POV is from their perspective the audience has no escape from the chaos as well. It was truly a treat to ride the film’s ups and downs, an emotional rollercoaster that I would gladly ride again. There is never a dull moment in Nicholas Holland’s film An Intrusion. Holland couldn’t have asked for a better cast, and the cast couldn’t have asked for a better script — it was a great marriage of talents from start to finish. Besides one plot hole of a loose thread with one of the murders, I really have no gripes about the film’s production, acting, or script quality and I believe An Intrusion would be an excellent watch for anyone looking for a straightforward, well-made, mystery-thriller.

7.75 out of 10