Intruder (2021) User Reviews

Did someone say Angela?

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 10 April 2021]

The lives of Sam and Rebecca are turned upside down when two young lads break into their house one night, a series of bizarre events follow.

I think some of the reviews are very unfair, particularly from those that switched off after ten minutes.

It's a mix of ok and bad, and a score of six may seem high, but I liked the basic plot outline, and I always enjoy watching Elaine Cassidy.

I'll give it a few extra points for one shallow reason, Tom Meeten is pretty cute, and it's the closest copy of Basil Fawlty that I have ever seen, his ranting and raving, and agitated behaviour are pretty amusing.

I think Elaine Cassidy and Sally Lindsay are the stars of the show, some of the other acting is a little amateur it's fair to say.

I was reminded of the Francis Durbridge dramas from the 1960's (recommended dvds) where the writer attempts to deliver twist after twist, after twist. It works to a degree.

My favourite part, the amount of times the name Angela was used.

All in all, it's not bad, 6/10.

At least it was quite short.

[hogberto-39809 · 5/10 · 8 April 2021]

And what was that accent that the implausible old farmer had?

A Rave From The Caves

[Lejink · 4/10 · 17 April 2021]

To my mind, this was another contemporary TV drama drawing too much on the influence of "Broadchurch", with its central murder, dramatic use of seaside and in particular cliff-top locations and different converging back-stories. However, despite an interesting initial premise, on what constitutes carrying out acceptable force when your house is broken into by intruders, there was just way too much going on here for the story to play out coherently and believably. It also wasn't helped, I felt, by inconsistent acting performances amongst the cast.

The main focus falls on a seemingly happily married couple, Tom Meehan as a successful and confident talk-show radio host and Elaine Cassidy as his mousy, quietly-spoken local-newspaper reporter wife. The action starts with their hosting of a party where equal amounts of cocaine and alcohol are consumed in almost stereotypical modern middle-class style. Outside though, waiting for them all to go home or to bed are a couple of young would-be burglars who rather than go after an empty house (and you figure there must be some unoccupied holiday homes in the neighbourhood), patiently await their chance to break in. Meehan though, through a drug/drink-induced haze catches them in the act and accidentally kills one of the fleeing boys. Distraught at what he's done, he corrals his compliant wife and also his as we later learn mistress, Helen Behan who is conveniently sleeping over with them having got out of her face again, as is her wont. Incredibly, the two women go along with his plan to re-dress the scene to make it look as if the boy supposedly attacked him and his wife justifiably stabbed the youth in his defence.

Amazingly, the police buy this theory but not the dead boy's single-parent dad who it seems can accept that his adored, studious son can be an early-morning housebreaker but incapable of doing so alone or wielding a knife. However, in a twist for the genre, it's not the senior detective or even the forensic examination "silent witness" team who have doubts about what happened on the fateful night, but a low-ranking family liaison officer Sally Lindsay who channels her inner Miss Marple and eventually suspects something more sinister.

Things get much messier from there taking in blackmail and more murders as the husband and wife effectively change positions, his cold, professional demeanour crumbling to incoherent panic as she develops a cold, steely persona to take charge of the mushrooming situation. There's also a subplot involving a grizzled old farmer who deals drugs on the side and whose path inevitably crosses with Cassidy's. Running through the narrative too is a flashback to Cassidy as a young girl getting lost in the super-mysterious caves, which they must be, we get so many atmospheric shots of them, so you know they will have a big bearing on the outcome, and guess what, they do.

Really, it's every bit as clunky as it sounds and like I said isn't helped by improbable plot leaps as well as some weak acting by the principals, especially Meehan, who acts as if he's being permanently stung by a wasp and Lindsay who's clearly watched too many episodes of "Father Brown".

It was all very uneven and left me at the end rather wishing someone had just blocked up all the participants in the caves below and not let them out again.

Implausible plot and awful characters

[acunnington-49732 · 2/10 · 6 April 2021]

Yet another psychological drama made for British TV featuring affluent, successful people who have no likeable qualities, and who stumble through their chaotic lives making one bad decision after another. One wonders how they ever became affluent and successful in the first place!

The three main characters are not only un-likeable, they are actually unpleasant, which makes having any sympathy or empathy for them just about impossible. The acting isn't great, the characters are very two-dimensional, the plot is unconvincing and the screenplay is tired, lame and unimaginative.

It's one of those series that thinks it is clever, original and 'edgy', but is in fact boring, predictable and just plain daft.

A Complete Turkey..

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 3/10 · 7 April 2021]

Worst drama of 2021 so far on British TV, a complete Turkey, makes The Drowning (also C5) look top notch, which takes some doing.

It's desperately unconvincing from the opening scene and continues in the same vein on a downward spiral till it becomes laughable for all the wrong reasons.

The direction, writing and acting were all way off and as for the plot.. They even had the same family liaison officer for the victim and perpetrator's family, like that would happen..

A preposterous melodrama - avoid..

Laugh-out-loud comedy genius!!

[simon1963 · 1/10 · 9 April 2021]

Except.....it's not meant to be! Am I in London, the West Country, Northern or Southern Ireland? Are these people really actors? Did a child write the story? Channel 5 has excelled itself, in putting on a 'drama' which actually makes 'The Drowning' look average! MORE PLEASE!!

Talentless, ham acting too painful to watch

[tagt-23095 · 8 April 2021]

I haven't seen anything so bad for years. The script, the acting, the direction was all so bad it soon became farce. How did anyone at Channel 5 allow this rubbish to be aired in prime time, there needs to be a serious board meeting.

I can't write anymore, just to say I advise anybody about to watch this awful waste of time, don't bother.

Ignore the negative posts.

[prashant-63677 · 7/10 · 4 January 2022]

Fail to understand so much criticism. To me it was a smart, sharp, taut thriller. Only 4 episodes, each character had a place in the story. A completely different ending, refreshing in many ways. In fact, quite a lot better than some of the woke trash bbc has been dishing out in the garb of murder mysteries. Just plain and simple good old TV. Thank goodness.

Starts mediocre then goes downhill

[mattjenkins · 1/10 · 7 April 2021]

The story line simply makes no sense and two of the key characters act like they are on a different planet with their behaviour and lines. Also where is this set? He works at London City Radio and talks to listeners from Taunton yet lives next to the sea where all the cars are Northern Ireland registered and the streets and buildings appear to be in the Republic of Ireland. Oh dear. Watched the first episode and had reservations but tried a second episode but had to switch off after 15 mins as it descended to becoming simply dreadful to bear watching anymore.

Fine

[bihesen · 7/10 · 30 January 2023]

Realism is best portrayed with unrealistic plots. Dont believe me ? Watch this series. It works like a graphic novel would and if it was one it would be praised. You try to imagine Rebecca Hickeys mindset and that should grip your imagination. The acting and credibilty is a mixed bag but as far a tv series go this works fine. The reason is does work is the symbolic levels here. One that tells you that society and family is not your friend unless you are able to befriend it / them. The symbolism is not very abstract Its quite obvious in the admittedly sub par closure plotline. But in portraying alienation and cynicism in rebeccas actions the plot does achieves one thing. : Reflecting that we all get away with 'murder' all the time and it borders evil unless we takes step to counter it.

Do not bother!

[terryjay-48127 · 1/10 · 7 April 2021]

Another Chanel 5 gem. As bad as The Drowning if that's even possible. As I watched as much as I could stomach, I questioned the Genre of this farce drama and concluded it should be categorized as Black comedy.

Different and interesting

[samlong-51710 · 8/10 · 3 June 2021]

Pity that this has some bad reviews but these people think that game of thrones is good viewing.

It's well written, suspenseful and totally different from the worn out crap these people think is good telly.

Bopper

[geoflyty · 7/10 · 7 April 2021]

Back in 1997, mobile phones didn't have a flashlight! First USA 2002 & UK 2010!

UTTER GARBAGE

[neilcrossland · 1/10 · 6 April 2021]

Gave the second episode a go, despite a very lukewarm first one.

Didn't get 20 minutes in before me and my wife looked at each and said "nah".

The dreadful actor playing the male lead was just too irritating. The extended scene were he shuffles around behind his mistress in her home, nearby cliff-tops and then the town shouting 'Angie' as he tries to talk sense into her, is excruciating.

I honestly didn't know wether it was purposely played for laughs or not. It certainly wasn't drama, that's for sure.

More messed up stereotyped wealthy idiots continually.....well, messing up.

This is bad. Very bad.

What can I say?

[mike-1804 · 3/10 · 8 April 2021]

Good news, Channel 5 continues its move into commissioning great original drama. Bad news, 'Intruder' doesn't come anywhere near meeting the requirements to satisfy the adjective,'great'.

This must have a detrimental effect on the broadcaster's reputation for providing quality programmes.

Having watched just the first two episodes, it's clear to me that the problem with the series comes down to 3 main things:

1. The budget is too low (or appears to be). Channel 5 has teamed with Irish Television for further funding and as a consequence the series has to be filmed in Ireland, doubling as England. The result gives the whole thing a strange look. It's a bit like seeing the Hollywood Hills in the distance on the outdoor London set in the Austin Powers movie.

2. The screenplays have not been rigorously vetted during development or pre-production; as a result there is a lack of structure, dialogue and characterisation.

3. The directing is below par. There are sequences where it is quite clear that there has been little or no blocking or rehearsal; as a consequence the actors appear as if they don't quite know where to stand or what is going on. This usually happens when there is an inadequate shooting day schedule; brought on because the budget is too low. There is no directorial 'flair' so the whole thing comes over as drab; no clever camera movements or inspirational lighting.

The overall effect of these problems has resulted, sadly, in an amateur feel to the whole thing.

To be fair , though, there are some very good scenes and story twists and turns, but these are overwhelmed by the bad ones. They have a very competent cast but they are under directed and, as a result, are susceptible to over act.

Let's hope the next drama series from Channel 5 brings about more positive reviews.

Please don't bother... yaaaaawn

[pqvx · 1/10 · 6 April 2021]

I can't improve on the other reviws, just add my weight to them. If you've seen "The Drowning", well, it's as bad as that.

Just awful

[bettyboopt · 1/10 · 9 April 2021]

Because I'm quite stubborn (and there was nothing else on) I'm ashamed to say I sat through the entire four hours of this. No likeable characters and a ridiculous storyline. It felt like some improv in a secondary school drama class where even the pupils were embarrassed. I can't stress how bad it was with an implausible plot with more holes than a fishing net. I've seen the female lead in other things and she's been great, her and Sally Lindsey are far too good for this, maybe they were desperate to get out the house during lockdown?!

So Bad It Was Laughable

[twostarvingscotties · 1/10 · 8 April 2021]

Oh, good heavens! You'd have to go a long, long way and look under a lot of scabby rocks to find another series this bad. Sally Lindsay, bless her, maybe she's broke? Would there be another reason for her to lend her talent to such inane, cringe worthy drivel? This is so far beyond awful, it's hard to find the words for it. I lasted two and a half episodes and had to save myself and pull the pin. The actors were all so thoroughly obnoxious and embarrassingly bad, I felt like throwing them all off a cliff myself. Totally forgettable, monumental waste of time. Shame, because with a bit of focus on a slightly more believable plot, and some halfway decent acting, it had potential to be watchable. But no, not for me.

Dire

[hillwalker3000 · 1/10 · 10 April 2021]

Oh, dear.

This attempt by Channel 5 to create a drama falls flat on its face. Some negative reviewers gave up after the first two episodes, but I pressed on purely out of a desire to see if it could get any worse - and of course, it could and it did.

The plot is flimsy yet hopelessly convoluted.

The script is desperately poor - one character (Sam) spends most of the time moaning or shouting out the same name over and over again - except when he's in a radio studio cursing to phone-in callers (in the real world, his rants would have been cut off after the first f-bomb).

The acting is also ludicrously bad. Sam's hysterical behaviour is too bizarre to take seriously. On the strength of his performance here, Tom Meeten will never appear in front of a camera ever again. Angela's alcoholic descent into self-pity and self-destruction is similarly bonkers since there's little warning of her mental instability until it's required for the plot to take a sudden turn away from the main story. Rebecca, the mouse-like wife suddenly morphs into a cold, sociopathic killer - again, no foreshadowing. And Sally Lindsay sleepwalks through the entire series - literally. That's all she does (though, apparently what she's really doing is investigating a murder).

How anyone saw this fit to be broadcast baffles me. Not one of Channel 5's finest hours, and Sally Lindsay should be ashamed of herself.

Sad

[pwalters-43899 · 8 April 2021]

So much potential where did it all go wrong? Probably the wrong pen and the acting school of wood!

Turn on. Tune in. Enjoy.

[zalfunk · 9/10 · 10 December 2021]

When the reviews slate the TV series, especially................ "I turned off after 10 mins, it was soooooooooo bad" or "I made it to the end, so you don't have to".

Don't hesitate. Turn on, tune in. Enjoy.

When the performance is "lumpy at best", the acting is flat and saved by "the few" and the storyline is ssssooooooooooooooo over the top.

Turn on. Tune in. Enjoy.

Never blindly accept reviews.

Ps Turn on. Tune in. Enjoy.

WTF?

[lmboreham-90880 · 1/10 · 9 April 2021]

After episode 1 I decided to treat this as a comedy and watched the whole series. Absolute drivel. The acting was awful. Can't get those 4 hours of my life back, thank god I'm on lockdown with nothing else to do!

Poor

[dianelilley · 1/10 · 7 April 2021]

Very. Very disappointed !! For goodness sake i would rather watch a test screen from the 70 s.

Implausible

[cluckypete · 1/10 · 9 April 2021]

Surely one of the worst products of the year Wooden acting a plot so implausible I simply continued to witness the denouement Sam is portrayed as a hysterical lunatic who could only shout out ANGELA ANGELA AD NAUSEAM Ashamed to admit I watched it.

Minus 10. Utter DROSS.

[Birminghamukengland · 1/10 · 8 April 2021]

I had high hopes for this after The Drowning but wow, what a disappointment.

This surely has killed off most of the 'actors' careers. There are so many West End trained actors out of work yet they give jobs to people like these?

Why do writers and commissioners think it's ok now to present such utter rubbish to the British public. Most things are pitched at such low standards and levels of intelligence.

I don't think you can call this acting. It is skill-less. I don't watch soaps so didn't know who Sally Lindsay was but good grief, talk about knowing when someone is acting and knowing when the camera is on her is an understatement. If you think it can't get any worse the male lead plays a part which is totally beyond reality! He must be so embarrassed watching it back.

Angela, Angela, Angela, how many times could they repeat her name, was the most unconvincing character from the outset.

Please don't export this channel 5. It's a total embarrassment and the Americans must laugh their heads off.

The old white haired bloke needs a serious nose, ear, eye brow and beard trim, it made me feel sick with the close ups in HD. Americans ensure that at least basic hygiene standards have been met by their hair and make up departments.

The writing, story telling, direction, sets, acting, in fact every single thing about this is shockingly bad.

It angers me actually that this country has sunk to this level of acceptance for utter DROSS. Where are the quality dramas now? Don't even get me started on BBC1 The Syndicate.

Do not waste your time on this and shame on Channel 5.