It's funny, it's tense, it features two great performances from two actors and the director expertly creates a web of odd tension where you actually don't know what is happening for the majority of the run time.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

The plot isn't so bad, but the pace of storytelling is too slow which makes people bored. Certain moments are so obvious and unnecessary for the main plot. I would've fast-forwarded those moments if it was an online streaming. The ending looks like implying a sequel, not sure if this movie will get one

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

It is very little wonder that the Roger Corman production of 'The Intruder' is a very rarely seen 1962 film about integration in the South. The usually affable William Shatner plays a prototype David Duke character, he's even seen cavorting with KKK members in their motorcades.The dialog is full of words certainly too 'offensive' by today's PC standards. The dreaded 'n' word is repeated countless times. Along with 'jigs' and 'coons', the dialogue, though 'offensive' to today's ultra-hip millennials, is gritty and real for its time. I would suggest that 'The Intruder' is a very honest, hard-hitting film, where 'To Kill A Mockingbird' is sentimental and romantic. (I am quite aware that 'Mockingbird' is on so many people's 'favorite' lists. Excuse me.)Personally, I think this no holds barred story about the days of school integration is totally believable and I'm impressed with the fine screenplay of Charles Beaumont, who is more famously noted for his brilliant short stories and 'Twilight Zone' scripts. He has a small role towards the end of the film. As far as our beloved 'PC' world, the internet is a valuable tool for finding films of this ilk. For all I know, the movie may be available on DVD. But I personally had never heard of the title, and I'm familiar with much of Beaumont's and Shatner's work.It doesn't have a happy ending. Why would it?

The Intruder is not a film for young children. School age children from the fifth grade on may find the film educational as the film depicts a period of American history and views. However, the film reminds us how easily it is to point the finger at our fears and things we hate. The film also reminds us to give us hope that real truth will somehow emerge in time to save ourselves from ourselves. Additionally, no matter how much reason and truth there is in the world, hate and fear will always remain. Hopefully, hate and fear can be removed with understanding and respect of our fellow man/woman, no matter race or religion. It is not an entertaining film, rather a thought provoking film. It is interesting to see William Shatner in one of his earlier film roles and in an acting role other than a starship captain. He does a good job in his role. It is different to see him as the villain after watching him for years as the hero as an Enterprise captain. This is not a prime time film. It is a film that should be watched in daytime with full attention.

Although by modern dramatic standards "The Intruder" might be considered somewhat heavy handed and unrealistic (and the ending wraps things up in a tight little bow that might irritate people who have actually been through similar experiences), I was impressed by how edgy and upsetting this movie was.Shatner gives a hell of a performance here - kind of an anti-matter version of Burt Lancaster - and the role plays to his strengths. Having seen him in "Incubus" and a couple of Twilite Zone episodes, I knew he could carry a movie with the right part, and he is fascinating to see in action here.I also admit that the screenplay didn't aways go for the easy out - the hero turns out NOT to be the crusading newspaper man (who is indeed brave, but not especially effective in the end) but the seemingly thoughtless and one-dimensional "good old boy" salesman living in the hotel room right next to "Adam Cramer". And the climatic scene near the end where the young black man is seemingly about to by lynched from a swing set (!) does something else instead that made me whistle in admiration.Not perfect, but shows what Corman could have become if things had worked out differently.

I don't think William Shatner is completely to blame- as director Roger Corman did- for the box-office failure of The Intruder. It's got a ham-fisted message going on, however very topical at the time and somewhat ballsy for an otherwise B-movie director to try and tackle. Surely some of the blame then can be placed on some bits of the script (i.e. the scene between Shatner's Adam Cramer and the one guy in the motel room, I forget his name, who shows how chicken he really is with a gun, is poorly written and executed all around), and for some of the likely rushed shots done by Corman on his usual peanuts budget and schedule (8 days for $10 grand a piece).This being said, it is worth checking out years later, and not simply because of Shatner acting like a cross between Charlton Heston and, well, classic Shatner. He's a convincing lot of ham-bone, and yet at times he does become sort of convincing in this part of a zealous racist riling up a small Southern town against the blacks (which, at the time, wasn't hard at all to do with mob mentality included). While he isn't given much anyway with such a one-note character, he puts his all into it, and however campy one might peg him he isn't a chump in the part. Kudos should also go to a more than decent supporting cast of character actors all also doing their best for decent material.To Kill a Mockingbird or In the Heat of the Night comparable? Maybe not quite, though it is at the least an important little piece to see alongside the others as an example of 'message' going by way of low-budget entertainment. It's predictable stuff meant to rile up the change that (thankfully) came around in the 1960s in the US. On those grounds it succeeds its ambitions.