'Creepy' Netflix thriller with unexpected ending is 'well worth it'

Daily Record

24-06-2025

The Occupant, also known as Hogar, is a 2020 Spanish thriller film that has delved into a stalker's psyche with a thrilling screenplay - and it's got everyone talking
The 2020 Spanish-language thriller drama, The Occupant, also known as Hogar, has been receiving notable mention from critics, highlighting its 'intriguing' nature as it explores the mind of a stalker through its suspense-filled narrative.
Now available for streaming on Netflix, the plot revolves around the character Javier Muñoz, portrayed by Javier Gutiérrez, a formerly thriving advertising executive forced to sell his beloved Barcelona apartment because of unemployment.
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Determined to reclaim his past lifestyle, Javier grows fixated with the new inhabitants of his previous abode—a family that seems picture-perfect from the outside—and starts shadowing them. His obsession takes a dark turn as he devises methods to surreptitiously become part of their lives and scheme their downfall with disturbingly strategic manipulations.
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Initially set for its world premiere at the Málaga Spanish Film Festival in March 2020, The Occupant's debut was deferred due to the global outbreak of Coronavirus. Subsequently, the movie made its international appearance on Netflix on March 25, 2020.
Garnishing a 65 per cent approval score from critics on Rotten Tomatoes, The Occupant launched to mixed reviews, with one reviewer describing it as: "A good thriller, but one can't help but feel that it didn't quite reach its full potential.", reports the Mirror US.
One fan explained the appeal of The Occupant: "The main reason why The Occupant works is Javier Gutierrez's dedicated performance as the psychopathic, dejected advertiser who would go to any heights to get what he wants."
Expanding on the dynamics of the film's story, a reviewer observed: "There's an interesting genre creep at hand in The Occupant. At its outset, it is a domestic drama; by the conclusion, it's a tense, dark thriller. The transition is very careful - and fascinating to watch."
Yet another critic pointed out some pitfalls: "The Occupant is a well-made movie with a variety of thoughtful visual compositions and an eye for effectively moody lighting. It also meanders tediously for an hour without really developing its characters."
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Echoing mixed sentiments, a viewer wrote: "The movie started out on a strong footing, but after a short period, it quickly descended into nonsensical chaos. It's full of plot holes that make it frustrating to watch. It's full of very unbelievable and unrealistic developments and has a very dumb ending."
While a different spectator highlighted the deeper themes: "Fantastic character study of greed and psychopathy in a capitalistic society. It's a slow burn, but well worth it."
In lavish praise, one admirer commented on The Occupant: "Excellent scenario, I didn't expect it to end this way, it is a suspenseful movie indeed. And a great performance by Javier Gutierrez."
Another viewer grumbled over the lack of depth in the Pastor brothers' characters in a recent film: "Boring, uninspiring. Put me sleep. Literally. Never had a logical progression of character development in this movie. Everyone feels hollow."