The Occupant Movie Review

Released: 25th March 2020 (Netflix)

Length: 108 Minutes

Certificate: 15

Director: David and Alex Pastor

Starring: Javier Gutiérrez, Mario Casas, Bruna Cusi, Ruth Diaz and David Ramirez

The realistic thriller has oodles of potential for portraying real life issues as well as creating deep character studies placed against modern society. While it doesn’t rank among the greats, The Occupant is still a fine effort.

Taking place in modern Spain, we follow Javier Muñoz (Javier Gutiérrez) a man with a comfortable middle-class life and lifestyle. But after leaving his role as a high-ranking advertising employee, a cycle of dissatisfaction and detachment ensues. As he’s rejected by employers, the younger generation and to an extent, his own family, this older, experienced father begins to yearn for something different. Heavily grounded in realism, The Occupant unfolds mainly from Javier’s perspective as he interacts with an array of different individuals and underhandedly uses his skills in advertising and real estate in a crafty scheme to reset his life; the rising tension comes not from caring for him as a character, but what malicious deeds he will engage in next. It’s a sinister descent that will have you resenting the main character by the end, something which also fuels the more unpredictable moments. The film’s sense of maturity is conveyed through its handling of adult issues, which are often revealed and exploited throughout. With that said, there are some plot elements that fit into the greater story, most notably a concerning gardener who occasionally chips his way into Javier’s scheming. This screen-time could have been dedicated to more sequences with the two families at the film’s centre.

The performances in The Occupant are all powerfully emotive, with a prime focus on showing the breakdown of relations and the distance that forms between families. Of course, Gutiérrez leads the way on this; you can see his frustration growing throughout the film. Though simultaneously, the film doesn’t dedicate much time to his internal thoughts; the audience is left wondering how and why he is led to commit illegal acts for personal gain. The same is true for most characters in the film in that no actor is at fault, but we don’t go beneath the surface to deepen their thought processes. Javier’s family (played by Bruna Cusi and David Ramirez) are mostly standard, their tempers flaring as things go on; while they may grow more distant as the plot goes on, there could have been more time dedicated to this breakdown, thus giving more detail to why Javier goes in the direction he chooses. It’s the other family that make the biggest impression as their slow breakdown is more violent and forceful; Ruth Diaz and Mario Casas as Marga and Tomas bear the brunt of Javier’s deeds and the results are often painful to watch, especially in the film’s climax.

While The Occupant mostly relies on a minimal presentation, there are several key details that set it apart. The protagonist’s profession is on full display throughout; the endless commercials on the televisions practically taunting Javier with what he could possess. Another key motif is the opening and closing of blinds observed in the character’s daily routine; this I felt mirrored his endless pursuit of more, only to come up empty. On a metaphorical level, doors continuously open and close, further fuelling his downward spiral. The lighting is both naturalistic and carefully controlled, working to enhance the grounded nature of the tale, while the music is cool and understated, only rising when the protagonist engages in dubious efforts. Often the camera will glide around the environments slowly at these moments, showing Javier evading the prying eyes of his neighbours. The film’s themes of generational divide, manipulation and the contempt of the wealthy are displayed very well across its runtime, while also maintaining the tension surrounding our main lead

While there could have more consistent interplay between the characters, The Occupant is nevertheless a well-produced character drama with some foreboding build-up and ultimately sinister results. It’s grounding in realism and unconventional protagonist arc make it worth your time.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars (Good)