Such a frustrating disappointment

recommended

Nice effects though.

Better than most people think

With a bit More Atmosphere and some Stylizing this could have become a Cult Movie just like "The Stepfather" (1987). It has a Similar, if Not so Powerful, feel. But it does have a Powerful and Memorable Performance from Gary Busey. He Manages to pull off the Dual Personality with an Uncomfortable Ease.This is a Believable Unbelievable Story that draws You in and Delivers a Good Set-Up, some Disturbing Scenes, and an overall Feeling of Lurking Menace that Hides behind this Suburban Sanctuary. Good Acting all around, but it revolves around Tom Sykes, Suffering from a Horrendously Abusive Childhood, and will Never be completely "Cured" and because the Audience is Aware of this from the beginning it unfolds as an Empathetic, Fearful Film.These two Emotions Uneasily Mix as We Wish what will Never Happen. This Movie is a Sleeper and will most Likely be a more Rewarding Experience than anticipated. Something a bit Deeper and a bit Different than the usual Psycho Stuff.

I LOVED this movie because it reminds me of the plot of "Bad Ronald" and it is a good movie to watch while it is raining and if you have ever been in a secret passage in a house. It is a PLAUSIBLE story as Busey is CLEVER in the things he does to delay and prevent his discovery. If is funny in parts because you see the human side and kindness of a man. And you also see the rage welling up inside and his decline & development to more violent acts. The progression of his childhood at the beginning and his falling through the cracks with the psycho-analysis,makes it particularly interesting from a criminal psychiatry standpoint. The drama is intense, especially when an exterminator sprays his area and nearly kills him! the pace is perfect, as his feelings for the wife develop and he eavesdrops enough to cause trouble for the couple he is observing. Great innocence & love for family shown by Mimi Rogers. Great affectionate but desperation acted by Busey.

The setup of the plot is very original, but it becomes excruciating to watch Tom Sykes since they reduce his behavior to this one dimensional Jason. To me, the point of the movie was going in the direction of "someone is living in the house, without authorization, lets explore the psychological dimensions of this guys behavior, perhaps there can be some interesting message about human behavior" then they decided to end the whole thing in this lame gun battle, which i felt was a cheap ending to something that could have been more fascinating. Overall, interesting, but no payoff.

If you consider yourself who takes every single movie seriously for the purpose it was created, then this probably isn't one you wish to view. However, if you are willing to sit back and laugh at a truly strange movie, paying no attention to the point of it--Then it's a good rental for a rainy day with a friend or two to laugh with. Pay close attention to the grunts, repeated things said by the "hider in the house". Personally, I love films which make no sense and are not at all realistic. I enjoyed it, perhaps you will too.