Squatters is a 2014 drama film that explores a heart-wrenching story of two homeless individuals who decide to squat in a lavish mansion belonging to a wealthy family that happens to be away on vacation. The movie explores the struggle of these two individuals and how their decision affects not only themselves but others around them.
The story starts with a young man named Kelly, played by George Cisneros, and a pregnant woman named Jonas, played by Quynh Anh, having to leave their shelter due to its closure. They decide to take up a new residence in an unoccupied mansion, hoping to find shelter there for some time. The mansion belongs to a successful family who are currently on vacation, and they assume that no one would notice their presence. As they begin to make the empty mansion their home, they slowly discover that the house belongs to a wealthy family whose return from vacation is imminent.
Meanwhile, the mansion's rightful owner, a drug-addicted teenager named Scott, played by Luke Grimes, is returning home from rehabilitation. Upon returning home, he finds Kelly and Jonas living in his family's mansion. Initially, he is furious, but as the story progresses, he develops empathy for the couple's unfortunate circumstances. As the trio navigates their shared space, they all begin to learn that they have more in common than they thought. Their circumstances bind them in a way that challenges their values and beliefs.
As the story progresses, we also witness the struggles of Kelly and Jonas, dealing with their daily struggles of survival. The couple has been living on the streets for so long that they are used to such hardships. Jonas is pregnant and must endure intense anxiety and fear about her unborn child's future. On top of this, they must also confront the dangers of their situation, like the fear of getting caught by the homeowner or the police, which creates moments of tension throughout the film.
Director Martin Weisz has done an excellent job of exploring the harsh reality of life on the streets through this beautiful and compelling movie. Weisz maintains a close focus on the lives of the main characters and their struggles, portraying real-life challenges like homelessness, drug addiction, and pregnancy hardships. The film highlights the extreme discrepancy between the haves and have-nots and portrays characters who are on opposite ends of life's socio-economic spectrum.
Overall, Squatters is a touching and emotional film that beautifully portrays the complex realities of modern-day society, with stellar performances by the lead cast. The film forces its viewers to confront difficult questions about inequality and privilege and highlights the importance of empathy and compassion in our everyday lives. Squatters is a heart-warming drama that deserves recognition for its bold effort to establish a positive change through its story.
Squatters is a 2019 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 17 minutes.
It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 3.0.
