The Occupant (Spanish title Hogar) is a 2020 Spanish Thriller written and directed by David Pastor and Àlex Pastor following an out-of-work advertising exec, Javier Muñoz (played by Javier Gutiérrez) who is forced to give up his lavish apartment in the city. Not long after that, he learns that a new family has moved into his old apartment, and he decides to get revenge on them for that.
This film exhibits the following tropes:
- Anti-Role Model: The directors from the movie have expressed that Javier is a "reflection of the monstrous and distorted materialistic aspirations of modern society".
- Ambition Is Evil: Javier is so desperate to get back to his old life that he will do anything to get it back.
- Asshole Victim: The gardener who threatens to reveal what Javier is up to is a pedophile. His death is pretty much guaranteed the moment we find out about this.
- The Bad Guy Wins: Javier manages to kill Tomas and hijacks his life, he also abandons his old family and threatens to ruin their life if his ex-wife reveals what he did
- Batman Gambit: Javier's whole plan to destroy Tomas' life is this. Everything falls in place every time he needs it and people around him act as he wants them to.
- Bitch in Sheep's Clothing: Javier spends the whole movie pretending to be friendly towards Tomas so he can lower his guard and ruin his life.
- Bloody Smile: Tomas, fed up with Javier manipulation, beats him so hard he starts bleeding from the mouth. Javier simply smiles at him because he has fallen right into his trap.
- Demonization: Javier makes sure Tomas' reputation with his family and colleagues is absolutely destroyed before killing him.
- Disproportionate Retribution: Javier, angry about losing his job and being kicked out of his home, decides to kill the patriarch of the family that moved into his old house and take over his life.
- Even Evil Has Standards: Javier commits multiple despicable acts throughout the movie, but he draws the line at pedophilia, as he is disgusted with the gardener.
- Green-Eyed Monster: All of the plot revolves around Javier being jealous of not having the life Tomas has.
- Hate Sink: Javier is an absolutely despicable man that will do anything to stay at the top of the food chain. He lies, he steals and he kills until he gets what he wants.
- I Have No Son!: Javier is dissapointed in his son for being overweight and feels no remorse about abandoning him and replacing him with Lara and Tomas' daughter.
- Karma Houdini: Javier gets away with his plan to kill Tomas and take over his life.
- Kick the Dog: Javier poisons a dog so it doesn't spoil his sneaking around.
- Murder the Hypotenuse: Javier kills Tomas via asphyxation and then marries Lara.
- Nepotism: Tomas got his job because his wife's father owns the company. This leaves him very insecure.
- Off the Wagon: Tomas is in Alcoholics Anonymous after a car accident caused by his drinking. Part of Javier's plan is to make it seem like Tomas has fallen off the wagon. By the end of the film, he has.
- Plot Allergy: Tomas mentions offhand halfway through the film that he's extremely allergic to peanuts. Javier uses this to cause his death.
- Trauma Conga Line: Tomas goes through this during the movie, thanks to Javier's machinations.
- Wealthy Ever After: Javier manages to get a good life, a great paying job and a family who loves him. Too bad he had to ruin Tomas life to get it.
