Squatters

A gem, a tense thriller about homeless young squatters who break into a rich couple's home and squat and steal from them while they are on vacation. The movie takes place in Venice Beach, a couple of young drug addicted homeless squatters break into a wealthy house off the beach where the squatters sleep under the life guard station. The leads are great Thomas Decker plays an amoral mercenary drug addict who is out for himself. Gabriella Wilde plays a lost homeless girl who still has a conscience which alludes to her previous life before she became homeless and addicted to drugs. Some of the extras seem as though they are real street toughs which gives it a cinema verite quality. The makeup is effective and realistic as they are very dirty. Reminiscent of other drug movies and film noir. The film makers accomplished a feat which is to get the viewer to sympathize with both the homeless squatters and the family that they have taken advantage of. Early scenes of the young homeless couple having things they were cut off from such as taking a bath, wearing nice clothes and going to a restaurant are poignant, these scenes made me root for the squatters even though they were criminals. A gem, I recommend watching this, it's both touching and effective.

The first portion of Squatters didn't impress me very much. After all, it simply consists of bad people doing bad things. And, I was worried that the film would simply glorify rotten behavior or have the baddies die in a hail of bullets. However, don't worry—the film gets better—a lot better! And, it doesn't succumb to the usual clichés.

When the film begins, Jonas and Kelley (Thomas Dekker and Gabriella Wilde) are homeless. They survive by rooting through dumpsters for food and shoplifting. And, when they aren't doing this, they sleep outdoors and do drugs. Their life isn't very satisfying or complete, that's for sure. However, through some dumb luck, while Jonas is out looking for something to steal, he manages to overhear a woman talking to her maid about their family going on vacation. And, because the woman thinks the two of them are along, she tells the maid the combination to the burglar alarm system! Jonas follows the lady woman home and it looks like he's got it maid…the woman is rich! Later, after the family has left for their trip, Jonas brings Kelley to the house for a little vacation…and to steal everything he can get! For a while, the pair see what it's like to live like rich folks—and they treat themselves to the family's clothes and sports car as well as a great dinner—all paid for by the people on vacation. However, while they stay there, Kelley finds herself looking through videos of the family. And, the more she watches them, the more connected with these people she feels. And, over time, she starts to care for these people she's never met and who they've been robbing. Jonas, on the other hand, just sees it as a chance to make a HUGE killing—and plans on selling everything he can. While this may not seem like that interesting a film, it's the second half that really works well…when the family returns. I could say a lot more about this, but frankly it would spoil the film. Suffice to say it's worth the wait.

This is a very interesting film because Richard Dreyfus and Lolita Davidovich play very small parts in support of Dekker and Wilde. Considering that Dreyfus is an Oscar-winning actor and probably doesn't need the money, you can only assume he liked the script or director of they were holding his family hostage to make him appear in the film (I would REALLY like to know)! Regardless, the pair were a really nice addition to what otherwise might just look like an indie picture. Dreyfus is, as always, terrific and Davidovich is timelessly beautiful. They also make GREAT supporting characters. Imagine…a Hollywood film in which rich people are nice and haven't earned their fortunes by being jerks! They are just sweet folks—as is their son in the film (played by Luke Grimes). In fact, although I am definitely straight, I found myself falling in love with Grimes' character—he was just so decent and sweet! With such great support, the film cannot help but work. And, let's not forget Dekker and, especially, Wilde—they are just terrific.

Overall, this is a surprisingly good film that is best seen instead of described. Be forewarned, however, that this is rated R and has a bit of nudity and violence (especially at the end). Now this is NOT to say it's gratuitous—as many nude scenes are done with great taste and are not intended to titillate but forward the plot. Well done all around and, unusual for me, there really isn't anything I didn't like about the film!

I ask whoever may read this to please read the Larry Silverstein review titled 'Preposterous'. This writer is far more level headed in his review than I could ever hope to be.

Everyone, EVERYONE, in this movie is just plain creepy. Even the story is creepy! We are suppose to believe two drugged out street urchins suddenly clean themselves up and are so pretty - no. The first giveaway was the pure white straight teeth and the fake smudges of fake dirt. And the rich folks clothes fit them perfectly! No! And the girl who in one scene is so drugged out she going to let herself be 'used' by 4 thugs. Then she watches a family video found in the fancy house and suddenly she has transformed into a meek virginal debutante who is ready to sacrifice her life for the 'nice rich family'. No! And then the rich families son falls in love with her and just happens to find her in the movie theatre - just silly.

Even the underground drug lord was more like a comic book character. Honestly did Martin Weisz actually view the finished movie? I think not. And Richard Dreyfuss must be 'in need' to do that role as the ever-so-cool dad because he seemed ambivalent in every word he tried to speak.

Bad movie, too long.

I grew me a pair of cheese-balls during this movie.... WOW. There where moments when I thought the movie could still be saved by a major twist.. But they just didn't seem to get there en my cheese-balls began to grow out of proportions. I wouldn't say 'worst movie ever' but it is definitely nominated... What all above has been said already.. Cheap storyline.. And they looked like hipster Cyber-Goth's to me instead of homeless people.. If a real homeless person would see this it would be a real shame. And the matrix porn-scene made me laugh my ass of. More like a comedy to me. And whats with the 'Robert Smith' reincarnation? Well, if I where you I still would definitely watch this just to laugh your ass of. At least I did.

Was too fakey right from the start. Most dumpster diving streeters look nothing like our Hollywood made up with make up, eye candy actors. The ripping off of a small deli scenes were Holly stereotyping; the grungy look was too wardrobe department shopping; the dirty faces/bodies looked like what a make up artist would create with a brush and the same medium gray water based paint - brush painting in all the right places. More laughable than real. The matrix slow motion effects were as cheap as the very fake punches being thrown in one scene. The owners' reactions to home invasion and serious theft - "What's for dinner!" Son in owner's family predictably and unimaginatively falls for our now magically transformed theft girl (Cinderella after a bath and stolen clothes.) and like all love stories (well, Hollywood love stories) he never truly leaves her.

Roughly equivalent to daytime tele soap opera production if that is one's entertainment interest.