The Strangers first hit theaters in May 2008, leaving a major mark in pop culture and scarring moviegoers as one of the most memorable home invasion movies. Now, The Strangers: Chapter 1 hits theaters on May 17, creating a franchise out of the original film.
While the first Strangers film is one of the most notable home invasion movies of all time, there have been many other similar films, made both before and after, that are oftentimes slept on. This list explores underappreciated films that fall into the home invasion subgenre, including heavy foreign flicks, 80s gems, and modern nightmares.
Barbarians
Released in 2022, Barbarians is a biting suspense thriller that presents a dinner party from hell. In Barbarians, two couples dine together at a newly purchased property during an evening of uncomfortable energy between the group. However, things take a turn for the worse when masked men invade the home and terrorize the occupants for reasons that are slowly revealed.
Barbarians is a slow burn that succeeds at building tension between the characters in the first half. By the time the home invasion occurs, many viewers will already be immersed in the dramatic developments of the earlier part of the film, making the fate of the characters even more harrowing and landing it a spot on our list of underrated home invasion movies.
Barbarians is currently available to stream on Shudder and AMC+.
Angst
Angst is an extreme horror film from Austria that was banned in several European countries when it first hit theaters in 1983. The film tells the story of a psychopathic serial killer who desires to continue his murderous escapades immediately after being released from prison. After a series of unsettling events, the murderer finds his way into the home of an innocent family.
Angst is extremely raw in its portrayal of violence, and it will prove to be far too much for more squeamish viewers. However, the film handles its depiction of such despicable actions in a surprisingly artistic way, causing the film to stand out.
Angst is currently available to stream on Tubi.
I See You
A different take on the home invasion formula, I See You explores the frightening occurrence of phrogging, which is when people secretly live in someone’s home without the homeowner’s knowledge. In I See You, a situation involving phrogging may be just the thing to crack a missing person’s case involving a 10-year-old boy.
I See You is significant for its strong performances from Helen Hunt and Owen Teague, as well as its unique plotline.
I See You is currently available to stream on Pluto TV.
Kidnapped
Another extremely shocking entry that is not for the faint of heart, Kidnapped is a Spanish horror film that features a wealthy family becoming victim to a robbery gone wrong when intruders break into their home.
Kidnapped is massively effective for a film made on a 100k budget, but it contains shocking sequences that may disturb even the most hardened horror fans. Kidnapped is also impressive for only containing 12 takes within the entire 85-minute film.
Kidnapped is currently available to stream on Shudder and AMC+.
Them (Ills)
More genuinely scary than gory, Them (Ills) is a French-Romanian co-production that follows a couple living in an isolated home in the countryside who are targeted by several hooded figures.
The film plays out like a very clever cat-and-mouse game, with an ending that will leave many with nightmares. Them also manages to include elements featured in many killer kid flicks, which helps this movie feel more dynamic.
Them is currently available to stream with a premium subscription on Prime Video.
Mother’s Day
An unhinged remake of an 80s Troma movie, Mother’s Day is a sleazy showcase of carnage with glimpses of Rob Zombie. Mother’s Day follows three brothers who break into their recently foreclosed home that’s now occupied by new residents who are in the middle of hosting a party. When Mother (Rebecca De Mornay) arrives on the scene, the body count starts to rise.
Directed by Darren Lynn Bousman, who helmed several films in the Saw franchise, Mother’s Day brings a gritty sense of style to a frightening story. The film is unpredictable, and no character is safe. De Mornay arguably gives one of the best performances of her career as a cold, calculating villain who will do anything to get what she wants, which is why it makes our list of underrated home invasion movies.
Mother’s Day is currently available to stream on Plex.
Emelie
Babysitters really don’t get worse than this. Emelie tells the story of a mysterious woman hired as a backup babysitter who ends up forcing the children to play horrifying games with life-or-death stakes.
This film taps into a special kind of fear that many home invasion films don’t, since in this film, the intruder is actually invited into the home instead of breaking in.
Emelie is currently available to stream on Prime Video, Peacock, Tubi, AMC+, and more.
Extremities
Starring Farrah Fawcett, Extremities is a psychological thriller released in 1986, following a woman named Marjorie who narrowly escapes a brutal assault. However, the assailant manages to steal Marjorie’s wallet and breaks into her home. Although, Marjorie is able to trap the man in her fireplace, creating a moral dilemma of what to do with the perpetrator.
Extremities may feel a bit dated at times, but it’s a powerful movie with heavy themes and will leave viewers with a lot to discuss. Extremities is not a horror film, but it is a classic home invasion movie that proved to be influential and should be discussed more frequently.
Extremities is currently available to stream on Tubi.
The Collector
The Collector is a 2009 slasher film that features a villain who is a combination of Jigsaw and the Night Stalker. The Collector tells the grisly tale of a handyman in debt who plans to rob one of his wealthy clients after they just moved into a new house. However, the protagonist finds himself trying to save the family’s life when a psychopathic murderer already beats him to a break-in, setting up horrific traps all around the home.
The Collector is a hardcore horror film that fans of Hostel and Saw will adore. The gore is aplenty, the story is rich, and the main villain is horrifying. The film also features a stellar soundtrack and a unique visual style.
The Collector is currently available to stream on Tubi and Pluto TV.
