In the dead of night, when the world sleeps and silence takes over, the notion of safety within our own homes can be shattered in an instant. Home invasion movies specialise in exploiting this primal fear to weave tales of terror. With each knock on the door or shadow lurking outside the window, these movies remind us that nowhere is truly safe – not even your own home. Lock your doors, dim the lights, and steel yourself for a journey into the realm of nightmares with these home invasion movies available on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and more.
7 terrifyingly good home invasion movies to watch when you’re home alone; available on Netflix, Prime Video, ZEE5, and more
1. Khamoshi (2019) – ZEE5
The movie follows a deaf and mute artist named Surbhi (Tamannaah Bhatia) who has inherited an estate from her mother. Based in London, Surbhi decides to use her wealth for the betterment of orphan children. One night, while she is peacefully working on an artwork, a psychopath, Dev (Prabhu Deva) breaks into her home. He assumes Surbhi as an enemy and makes an elaborate plan to kill her while the latter struggles to survive. This is one of the rare Indian movies about home invasions. However, it’s not an original one – the movie is the remake of the Hollywood movie, Hush.
2. Don’t Breathe – Netflix
This is one of the most thrilling and unusual home invasion movies. It follows a group of friends who break into the home of a blind war veteran Norman Nordstrom (Stephen Lang), in the hopes of stealing money. However, on invading his home they discover that the blind man is far more dangerous than they anticipated. Trapped inside the darkened house with their senses heightened and the blind man hunting them, the intruders get caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse where even the slightest noise could mean their demise. The intense atmosphere, clever twists, and innovative use of sound and suspense keep you on the edge. The movie offers an unpredictable ride from start to finish, making it a standout entry in the home invasion genre. There’s also a sequel with Norman embarking on a revenge-filled quest to find his missing daughter.
3. The Purge – Amazon Prime Video
Set in a future America where all crime, including murder, is legal for one night each year, the movie follows the Sandin family as they attempt to survive the annual Purge night. James Sandin (Ethan Hawke), has made a fortune selling security systems to protect homes during the Purge, but when his own family becomes the target of a group of masked assailants, they must fight to stay alive until morning. As the Sandins barricade themselves inside their fortified home, secrets are revealed forcing them to confront their own moral dilemmas. With its thought-provoking premise and intense suspense, the movie is a chilling depiction of a world gone terrifyingly awry. The movie spawned four sequels and a television series, each expanding on the concept of the annual Purge night.
4. Intruders (2015)
Anna (Beth Riesgraf) suffers from agoraphobia and never leaves her home. Her safe haven, her home, is disturbed when three men break into her house to steal the money Anna is hiding. As the tension escalates and the true motives of the intruders are revealed, Anna’s psychological struggle becomes intertwined with the physical battle to survive. With its claustrophobic setting and a sense of dread, the movie offers a chilling portrayal of a woman pushed to the brink as she confronts the invaders.
5. Panic Room – Netflix
Meg Altman (Jodie Foster) and her daughter Sarah (Kristen Stewart) move into a new home equipped with a ‘panic room’, a secure space designed to protect occupants in the event of a break-in. On their first night in the house, three burglars (played by Forest Whitaker, Jared Leto, and Dwight Yoakam), break in to steal bonds worth millions. When Meg and Sarah seek refuge in the panic room, forcing the burglars to lure them out. When Sarah starts falling sick due to missing her insulin, Meg must use her wits to protect herself and her daughter. With a suspenseful atmosphere, an intricate plot, and strong performances, particularly from Foster, the movie takes you on an adrenaline-fueled ride.
6. The Strangers – Amazon Prime Video
The story follows a young couple, James Hoyt (Scott Speedman) and Kristen McKay (Liv Tyler), who go on a vacation to spend some alone time. Their peaceful holiday takes a terrifying turn when three masked strangers arrive and begin to torment them. The strangers terrorise the couple throughout the night by using mind play and physical torture. The couple then struggles to survive the onslaught but is forced to confront the unsettling reality that they may never escape the masked assailants. Inspired by real-life events, the movie is praised for its tense atmosphere, chilling performances, and minimalist approach to horror.
7. Home Invasion – Amazon Prime Video
The story revolves around a wealthy woman Chloe (Natasha Henstridge) and her stepson trapped inside their mansion by a group of masked thieves. As the invaders subject the two to psychological torment and physical violence, help arrives in the form of security systems specialist Mike (Jason Patric). With tension mounting and secrets unravelling, the battle for survival escalates, keeping the audience on tenterhooks with its suspenseful plot and unexpected twists.
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