The Best Home Invasion Movies

By Danilo Castro ​

​There’s no place like home. It’s where we go to relax, secure our cherished belongings, and spend time with the ones we love. It’s where we feel safest, and most removed from the evils of the outside world. Unless, of course,  evil decides to kick in the front door, and turn our very existences upside down. 

The breakdown between private and public is what makes the home invasion such an effective subgenre. By preying on what we know to be safe, these films hit upon primal fears, and force us to consider how we would act in the same situation. Jordan Peele’s “Us” is the latest release to tackles these fears, so with that in mind, we’ve retreated to the attic and compiled our list for the Best Home Invasion Movies. 

​Bonus: “Home Alone”

As a bonus entry, “Home Alone” breaks several rules on our list. It is only partially set in a house, and the protagonist, Kevin McCallister (Macaulay Culkin), is the one inflicting pain, rather than the other way around. But none of that really matters. “Home Alone” is a perfect comedy, and we’ll take any opportunity we can to talk about it.

Everyone involved with the film hits the mark, from director Chris Columbus to screenwriter John Hughes and composer John Williams. All things considered, though, we wouldn’t have a home invasion were it not for the criminal duo of Harry (Joe Pesci) and Marv (Daniel Stern). They prove that sometimes, all you need to defeat evil is a paint can and a well-placed tarantula.

​
​6. “Straw Dogs” (1971)

Sam Peckinpah was a director who lived and died by his convictions. His films were almost always crass, violent, and challenging for most viewers to get through. That said, few carried the disturbing weight of his 1971 classic “Straw Dogs.” What starts out as a small town trip for David (Dustin Hoffman) and Amy Sumner (Susan George) turns into a nightmare, as locals overrun their house and assault the unwitting couple. 

The film is not for the faint of heart, particularly when it comes to the controversial rape scene and senseless bursts of violence. Peckinpah pushed the boundaries of what could be shown at the time, and in that push, he managed to say plenty about the follies of masculinity and mankind’s inherent darkness.

​
​5. “Funny Games” (1997)

1997’s “Funny Games” is a triumph of meta-storytelling. The film depicts the suffering of a wealthy family endures when they’re taken captive and tortured by two young men. In between these grotesque scenes, the young men break the fourth wall and talk to the audience, raising uncomfortable questions about voyeurism and our own desensitization to violence. 

“Funny Games” was remade a decade later with director Michael Haneke still at the helm. While deemed an inferior effort, the 2007 version boasts impressive turns from Naomi Watts and Tim Roth, as well as an extension of the meta-narrative of the original. Both are worth checking out.

4. “Wait Until Dark” (1967)

Darkness is a crucial part of any good home invasion movie, but few use it as cleverly as the aptly titled “Wait Until Dark.” This 1967 thriller follows blind housewife Suzy Hendrix (Audrey Hepburn), who wanders into a sinister web involving smuggled heroin and a pair of criminals (Richard Crenna and Alan Arkin) who are eager to retrieve it from her unknowing clutches. 

“Wait Until Dark” is relatively light on scares, but each scene is loaded with tension. We never know when the criminals are going to strike, or if their manipulation of the (seemingly) feeble Hendrix will turn violent. Coupled with a pair of excellent performances by Hepburn and Arkin, and this is one unsung classic that deserves another look.

​3. “Hush” (2016)

“Hush” takes the standard set by “Wait Until Dark” and raises it by having main character Maddie (Kate Seigel) be both deaf and mute. Like that earlier film, however, it uses its unique elements to spruce up a tired premise. Maddie is an author who lives in isolation, and whose life is threatened when a killer shows up at her window. The 81 minutes that follow perfectly exemplify how to get maximum impact from minimal storytelling.

As director, Mike Flanagan has a knack for suspense and how to tell a story through visual means. His style harkens back to the early works of John Carpenter, with a few subtle nods to “Halloween” thrown in for good measure. Seigel also brings the goods in a demanding physical role. To quote the esteemed William Friedkin, “Hush” is simply “a great horror film.”

2. “The Strangers” (2008)

Home invasion movies don’t come more simple. “The Strangers” is about a married couple (Liv Tyler and Scott Speedman) who travel to a family vacation home and find themselves surrounded by a trio of sadistic killers. A fight for survival ensues. The film was widely panned for its simplicity when it was released in 2008, but time has been kind to its blend of unnerving visuals and expert staging.

Those in doubt need only see the 10-minute sequence where Tyler’s character comes to realize that she isn’t alone in the house. Filmed without a single line of dialogue, is both heart-stopping and showstopping. Rookie director Bryan Bertino presents us with the most unsettling of horror movie theses: that sometimes, being in the wrong place at the wrong time can be why we suffer. Tough luck.

1. “Panic Room” (2002)

“Panic Room” is the rare modern thriller that actually earns the tag “Hitchcockian.” It focuses on a mother (Jodie Foster) and daughter (Kristen Stewart) who find themselves stuck in the panic room of their new home. A trio of criminals are trying to rob the place, but what they don’t realize is that the fortune of the previous owner is also hidden inside the panic room. 

The film has a great supporting cast, with Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, and Dwight Yoakam bringing flair to their respective criminals. What elevates “Panic Room” above similar films, however, is the stylish direction of one David Fincher. Whether it be his clever use of CGI or his elegant framing, Fincher skates through each tense sequence with ease. This is what a genre filmmaker looks like at the top of his game.

Do you agree with our list? Have you seen "Us" yet? Where would it rank for you on this list? let us know your thoughts in the comments section below or on our Twitter account.

You can follow Danilo and hear more of his thoughts on the Oscars and Film on Twitter at @DaniloSCastro