Starring:    Josh Stewart, Daniella Alonso, Andrea Roth

Directed:    Marcus Dunstan

Having cut their teeth on the Saw series, Director Marcus Dunstan and writer Patrick Melton go it alone with this fresh take on the trusted “intruder in the house” scenario.

With debts adding up, Arkin, ably played by Josh Stewart, decides to break into his employer’s house and look after himself.  The only problem is, he isn’t the first in there.  Someone has already broken in who has far more twisted designs on the house and family inside it then robbing the cutlery.

After running into one of the hiding family, he quickly realises that his employer and his family are being held captive by a mysterious masked man, who has set up the house as one big cruel booby trap with everything from razor sharp knives on the light fittings and a carpet of bear traps in the sitting room.

What we are left with is a petty thief who must decide on saving his own skin or helping his employer’s family who surely won’t make it through the night.

This is quite an enjoyable movie and although the DIY torture is very reminiscent of the Saw series, we are still left rooting for an anti hero as we journey through the dark house with him as if we are peering over his shoulder and waiting for something awful to happen.

It’s nice to see originality rearing its head again and we should be thankful in one sense that there are so many young Directors and Writers queuing up out there ready to frighten the pants off us.

Something original and shocking and one that will definitely have you gripping the arm rest.

4/5