Matialth
Good concept, poorly executed.
Guillelmina
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
Fleur
Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.
Coolestmovies
Disarmingly downbeat and occasionally heavy-handed pre-handover scare flick—oddly released after the fact and to little effect—has mainland psycho Wu Chien-lien literally attempting to steal new lives in Hong Kong for herself and her husband (Moses Chan), a plan that involves destroying the life of a reclusive, lonesome cab driver (Wayne Lai). Undeniably intriguing allegory with Wu an absolutely ice-blooded villainess. Final ten minutes, during which the last pieces of the plan are literally put in place, are absolutely harrowing. Directorial debut of seasoned screenwriter Tsang, whose prior work on comedies, action movies and gangster dramas gave little hint of the unrepentant nihilism he indulges in here. Produced by Johnnie To—whose association with Tsang dates back over a decade—with apparently little love lost for Chinese mainlanders, who are painted here in strokes not dissimilar to Hollywood horror film hillbillies. This was the second film produced under To's new Milkyway Image production company, after BEYOND HYPOTHERMIA.
EVOL666
I hadn't watched a CAT III film in two or three years-so imagine my delight when I happened to blindly pluck this one from my huge stack of unwatched films. Like many sub-genres, CAT III films can be very hit-or-miss...lucky for me-INTRUDER is a home- run...A Chinese mainlander kills a hooker and assumes her identity to move to Hong Kong. Once there, she targets an unsuspecting loner-type guy because we find that the woman and her husband are both wanted for crimes in China-and with her own new identity confirmed-she now needs to get identification for her husband. The action of the film transpires when the woman holds her victim captive in his own home-awaiting the arrival of her husband from the mainland...there are elements of INTRUDER that reminded me of other such films as MISERY and INSIDE (two films that I also happen to enjoy quite a bit...), but with a Hong Kong-style film-making flare. And while not strictly a 'home-invasion' film in the strict sense-I'd still consider it in the same realm as such and rank it up there amongst the best. The main murderess is beautiful and is quite good at portraying a ruthless, yet sometimes vulnerable antagonist, who will stop at nothing to succeed in her plot to keep her and her husband free of the authorities. Sharp storyline, solid acting all around (the victim's young daughter is heart-wrenching in her scenes...), Masterfully shot, well-crafted suspense, brutal (if not always extremely graphic) violence-my only gripe at all is that the gorgeous main actress never shows any skin and that INTRUDER lacks the sleaze of some other notable CAT III entries- facts that I'm willing to overlook this time-for a film that's one of the best CAT III thrillers, or thriller films in general, that I've seen in quite a while. It's a shame the Director only has this film to his directing credit-I'd be seriously interested in seeing something else from him. Highly recommended. 8.5/10
HumanoidOfFlesh
Wu Chien-Lien plays Yan,a wanted criminal who flees from Taiwan to Hong Kong by killing a prostitute and assuming her identity.Once in HK,she meets a perfect victim played by Lai Yiu-Cheung.She proceeds to take him hostage in his own home,and prepares for the arrival of her also-wanted murderous husband."The Intruder" certainly packs a punch.It's a gritty and evil film filled with enough brutal violence and gore to put a smile on the face of any self-respecting HK Cat III fan.Wu Chien-Lien is reasonably effective as a remorseless female serial killer,who murders hookers,dogs,grandmas and men.The climax is suspenseful and horrifying.The film lacks sleaze of its nasty Cat III predecessors,but fans of violent and disturbing Hong Kong cinema should give it a look. 9 out of 10.
emrio
this is a dark chilling unique hk. assumed identity type film. There is tension but the overall effect is relentless assumption of identities. It also has a dark mean streak about it and it is the sort of film you will remember long after you seen it.Hollywood it aint.Do yourself a favour...see it,you wont feel better about life but you wont forget it.
