Hider in the House (1991)

Expected more

Instead, you get a movie that's enjoyable enough, but leaves you feeling like it could have been much, much more.

It's a feast for the eyes. But what really makes this dramedy work is the acting.

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.

What's that creaking coming from the roof? Might just be rats or mice… Might be? "Hider in the House" is all Busey, although Mimi Rogers (who's looking great) is affably strong and classy as lady at the centre of his growing affection. It's the lead performances that go a long way to lifting this old-hat concept out of the average mould, as the direction while competently polished remains routine in its story progression, tension building and visual aspect. Gary Busey playing slightly disturbed… well at least you know you won't be let down. But I might be understating it by stating slightly --- it's unpredictably intense and gleeful, as his psychological torment is perfectly etched out. Bruce Glover also amusingly shows up as a pervert neighbour.Julie and Phi Dryer along with their two young kids have moved into a new house, but unknowingly to them an ex-patient of a mental asylum Tom Sykes has made himself at home in their attic by constructing a secret room. He spies on them, as he sees them as the ideal suburban family he was never apart of it --- due to a terrible past which was the reason for being an intuition. However his obsession for Julie soon sees him wanting to be the husband of the household, as he goes about trying to make this happen while discarding of any threats which could expose him.Busey's character builds somewhat a nest, where he feels secure and protected, where he simply watches (peering into windows while wandering around the house at night) and listens (through a voice com) but when he catches details on how this family isn't all that perfect he gets involved by orchestrating actions which could see him move right in. The initial build-up is where it's at its strongest; at it's compact, gripping and at times atmospheric --- but this seems to fall by the wayside during the second half when he makes himself known to the family. Now it loses its unsettling edge and becomes predictable and silly.

I can't believe they did it. Mathew Patrick has displayed unremorseful genius with this film. And Busey couldn't have been more amazing had he worn a robe made of lion's skin.This film will frighten you. Not for fear of the unknown though. It will frighten you when you find out that you have less control over your affect than you had imagined. You will be afraid that Busey might be more important to you than seems reasonable. Busey will become your mother -your lover, your son -your daughter. Busey will become the voice in your head that says, "No, I'm not gonna follow the flock anymore." Suspense doesn't begin to categorize this movie. I have never seen anything like it. When Mimi Rogers begins to address the subtle feelings she has for Busey (Tom Sykes), my heart turned into a bird's nest. You just can't help but to pray for the guy. He has more love in him than the ocean has salt. It will be all you can do to keep yourself from tearing out of your clothes and attempting to dive into the screen screaming, "Mimi you fool! He could be yours! You could be his!" The movie leaves me muttled beyond repair. It challenged me. I had a difficult time with it. Busey is beyond finesse here. He is a crescendo of livid soul-searching feeling. He is not acting in Hider in the House, he is astonishing.

Of all the people who could be hiding in a secret compartment in one's house, Gary Busey has got to be one of the most unsettling possibilities. In fact, rather than having Busey portray a fictional character--the mentally disturbed Tom Sykes--the director should simply have let Gary Busey portray the mentally disturbed Gary Busey. Now THAT would have added an extra layer of creepiness to the film! Yes, the movie was predictable at many points. And yes, the ending was unimaginative and even disappointing. But there's something so sinister, so psychologically tumultuous about the prospect of that clunkhead, Gary Busey, sneaking around an unsuspecting family's house, that I found the film bordering on the horrific. (I visualize him right now, crouched in my attic, strumming his guitar and singing "Peggy Sue.")What's that noise I hear?! Could it be....GARY BUSEY???!!!AAAAHHHH!!!

If you consider yourself who takes every single movie seriously for the purpose it was created, then this probably isn't one you wish to view. However, if you are willing to sit back and laugh at a truly strange movie, paying no attention to the point of it--Then it's a good rental for a rainy day with a friend or two to laugh with. Pay close attention to the grunts, repeated things said by the "hider in the house". Personally, I love films which make no sense and are not at all realistic. I enjoyed it, perhaps you will too.