Clive Owen stars in "Intruders." (Jorge Alvarino)

Clive Owen stars in "Intruders." (Jorge Alvarino) Credit: Clive Owen stars in "Intruders." (Jorge Alvarino)

"Intruders" offers a case study in the wrong way to make a horror movie.

The story of a creepy, faceless bad guy who terrorizes kids, the film sounds like the stuff nightmares are made of. At the very least, it should offer a new take on the "Nightmare on Elm Street" formula. But it's impossibly labored and dull.

Clive Owen stars as John Farrow, a doting father to daughter Mia (Ella Purnell), whom he struggles to protect when the aforementioned bad guy, deemed Hollow Face, starts tormenting her. Simultaneously, the demon goes after a Spanish boy, Juan (Izán Corchero).

This sounds simple enough, but filmmaker Juan Carlos Fresnadillo refuses to play things straight. A heavy, almost indiscernible psychological burden is imposed on the story and the film gets mired in the muck.

LI schools named to best colleges list ... Potential nor'easter could bring rain, wind, flooding ... LI Works: Lighting up Long Island  Credit: Newsday

Questions over waterfront preservation program ... Fake vaccination crackdown ... What's next for Giants after Jaxson Dart injury ... Potential nor'easter could bring rain, wind, flooding

LI schools named to best colleges list ... Potential nor'easter could bring rain, wind, flooding ... LI Works: Lighting up Long Island  Credit: Newsday

Questions over waterfront preservation program ... Fake vaccination crackdown ... What's next for Giants after Jaxson Dart injury ... Potential nor'easter could bring rain, wind, flooding

SUBSCRIBE

Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months

ACT NOWSALE ENDS SOON | CANCEL ANYTIME