Hider in the House is the story of a disturbed man (played by Gary Busey) who is desperate to be a part of a functional and "normal" family. Tom Sykes (Busey) was verbally and physically abused by his parents growing up. He took action into his own hands and burned their house down with them in it. Committed to a psychiatric facility his whole life, the hospital board felt it was time to release him into society. Boy, were they wrong. We quickly find out he is still very disturbed from the events that took place in his childhood. Meanwhile, we meet the Dreyer family who is moving into a new house. Tom sneaks up to the attic of that house and builds some sort of a room sheltering him from the family. They have no clue he's hiding out in there.While up there, he overhears pretty much every conversation that takes place. The ironic thing about "Hider in the Hoiuse" is that the family he so desperately wants to be a part of is FAR from "normal". The man of the house is cheating on his wife (Mimi Rogers), the young son is having pretty serious emotional issues involving bullies, etc. Tom overhears all of it. He eventually becomes infatuated with Julie Dreyer (Rogers) and worms his way into her life. All this leads up to a satisfying conclusion.Hider in the House is a pretty good suspense/thriller. Gary Busey puts in a good performance as does Mimi Rogers. There are a few murders in the film, but that's not what this is about. The true point of the movie is the back story involving Tom and his childhood. It's interesting to see him looking at the Dreyer family like they are the perfect thing in the world. Of course, the viewers see them as a very dysfunctional group. There are some slow parts that drag on, and the idea of him hiding out in the attic without anyone knowing is VERY unbelievable. But it's good enough for a viewing.6/10

I LOVED this movie because it reminds me of the plot of "Bad Ronald" and it is a good movie to watch while it is raining and if you have ever been in a secret passage in a house. It is a PLAUSIBLE story as Busey is CLEVER in the things he does to delay and prevent his discovery. If is funny in parts because you see the human side and kindness of a man. And you also see the rage welling up inside and his decline & development to more violent acts. The progression of his childhood at the beginning and his falling through the cracks with the psycho-analysis,makes it particularly interesting from a criminal psychiatry standpoint. The drama is intense, especially when an exterminator sprays his area and nearly kills him! the pace is perfect, as his feelings for the wife develop and he eavesdrops enough to cause trouble for the couple he is observing. Great innocence & love for family shown by Mimi Rogers. Great affectionate but desperation acted by Busey.

Forget the inanity (no thats NOT a typo!) of the plot...a fruitloop living soundlessly in an attic, in a tiny room he built there - EQUALLY soundlessly!......this is a tour-de-force performance from Busey. The most realistic nutter put on screen since Norman Bates! As someone commented, a similar premise to THE STEPFATHER, being the story of a lone weirdo psychotically disposed towards creating the "perfect" family! Busey's deranged Tom Sykes, complete with nervous dysfunctionality is awesome. There are several scenes you feel for the guy and really ache for his solitude and inherent decency! I believe it was his best role and despite the fact the wheels tended to fall off towards the end, as it entered the standard formula "where-do-we-go-from-here" scriptwriters' block, ENOUGH professional work had been witnessed to term this a way better than average thriller! Mimi Rogers always has dignity, class and resolve (well OK she struck-out marrying Tom Cruise arguably) Here, she puts across a sympathetic woman who finds herself in a seriously unwanted position through no fault of her own.Ultimately you'd have to wonder, if despite his mental disturbances, Sykes wouldn't have made a better husband than Phil (McKean) who proves himself the wimpiest womaniser on the block! I was rooting for Busy to take him out big-time!Flawed thriller that should by rights, be rating 6.8 here!

If you consider yourself who takes every single movie seriously for the purpose it was created, then this probably isn't one you wish to view. However, if you are willing to sit back and laugh at a truly strange movie, paying no attention to the point of it--Then it's a good rental for a rainy day with a friend or two to laugh with. Pay close attention to the grunts, repeated things said by the "hider in the house". Personally, I love films which make no sense and are not at all realistic. I enjoyed it, perhaps you will too.