(Sighs) ...

Rating: 3/10 (25 June 2013)

TO MY FELLOW CRITICS I, too, maintained unreasonably high expectations regarding this film. And like the rest of you, who were immensely, profoundly, sorely, and utterly disappointed amid watching it: I share in your discontentment.
TO THE UNSUSPECTING VIEWER I must I own that I found the film so terrible that I could not endure it in its entirety--I only lasted about 40 minutes before abandoning the theater in disgust--therefore, you may find my critique irrelevant; although, the events preceding "the commencement" were mostly tolerable.
Admittedly, the film possessed so intriguing a plot that it captivated my attention for months. It had a decent and recognizable cast (award nominee, Ethan Hawke, "300"'s shrewd Queen Gorgo of Sparta, Lena Headey,that kid from that one film, Max Burkholder, and etc.), a marginally decent director, James DeMonaco (hey, "The Negotiator" was pretty awesome!), and three-time "MTV Movie Award" winner, producer, Michael Bay (...); and so I thought, 'surely, it will at least be decent.' Well, as aforementioned, I could only stand 40 minutes of the film--despite their not having skimped on the clichéd details(the culminating adolescent girl with pent-up aggression and daddy issues, and her failingly humane younger brother) to assure the audience that some stupid decisions will be made.
Once "the commencement" commences, it seems reality is tossed to the wind. One unrealistic action after another (from the son disarming the security system and unwittingly placing his entire family in jeopardy,to the daughter's love-obscured indiscretions) had quickly diminished my interest in the film--yet, I remained in hopes that it would improve. Following the entrance of the presumed vagabond (whom, having invaded the home of a man who supposedly installs security systems for a living, seemed incredibly, remarkably elusive) and the angry mob's arrival is when my interest further diminishes--yet, I remain still.
After finally apprehending the intruder, their efforts to bind him verge between ridiculous and outright infuriating (I could not, for the life of me, determine why they simply could not bind his legs and hands, CARRY HIM, and then toss his a** outside?). However, the straw the proverbially broke the camel's back was when the wife conveniently experiences a sudden mode of compunction (I wanted to yell at the screen, "Woman, the man just threatened your daughter with a gun; dump the SOB outside!") and decides that defending their own lives is morally wrong. It is at this juncture that I angrily finish drinking my large Cherry Coke and storm out of the theater.
I could care less if the film would have improved after that scene; I just cannot stand to watch such idiocy--despite having spent $10+ dollars on a movie ticket.