Keep Driving Past the House at the End of the Street: A Movie Review

Director: Mark Tonderai.

Writers: David Loucka and Jonathan Mostow.

Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Max Thieriot, Elisabeth Shue, Gil Bellows, Nolan Gerard Funk, Eva Link and Allie MacDonald.

House at the End of the Street is a mediocre thriller that was released in theatres September 23rd. The film received a solid welcome, but this reviewer is not sure why. This PG-13 horror film lacks tension, conflict, and any meaningful terror. Instead, House at the End of the Street feels like a horror film with training wheels. The film is too safe and mostly predictable.

The film's story involves a mother and daughter duo. Elisabeth Shue plays Sarah, the overprotective mother. Meanwhile, Elissa is the rebellious daughter played by Jennifer Lawrence. These two characters move next door to the "murder house." Their neighbour, Ryan (Max Thieriot), is the only survivor of a double murder orchestrated by his sister, Carrie Anne. Ryan's parents were supposedly murdered by Carrie Anne; or, were they? The gory details are revealed through flashbacks in Act III, while Elissa and Ryan develop an awkward romance.

Jennifer Lawrence is developing into quite the actress. Lawrence has already garnered an Oscar nomination for her performance in Winter's Bone. She has been nominated for several awards for this role, in which she played a desperate daughter in a broken family. The material here is less dramatic and more tepid. Yet, Lawrence still manages to carry the show.

Some of the show is focused on teen high school romance; this film might be directed at Tweens. The PG-13 rating also signals that House at the End of the Street will stay clear of difficult subject matter. The conflict in the film involves simple bullying or gossip. Events do not heat up until close to the finale. Some of Ryan's conflicts are finally revealed in these later frames. As well, the bloodshed here is minimal and there are few scares about. So, who is this film targeted to? This reviewer believes that few adults will find this material compelling and only, teens might enjoy this outing. H.A.T.E.S is good only as an entry into the horror genre, but the film is not meant for seasoned viewers of horror.

This film is watchable, but it is rarely compelling. And, House at the End of the Street is a step down for director Mark Tonderai, whose entry in the genre, Hush, was an excellent highway set thriller. Tonderai can only go through the motions in this toned down horror feature. The story also develops slightly predictably, outside of Ryan's character. Ryan's characterization is complex and he offers a few surprises, but a villain needs a stronger protagonist. Elissa seems barely up to the task. Overall, House at the End of the Street does not create enough excitement.

Horror fans will not find much here to send chills up their spine. Instead, the film is a fairly generic thriller that only offers a few surprises in its narrative close to its ending point. Viewers will not find the story here too challenging and the film, overall, is meant as a no-brainer popcorn movie. Someone pass the butter.

Overall: 6 out of 10 (a few surprises in Act III, characterizations are moderately developed, there is very little conflict through Act I and II).

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Posted in: 2012,horror,horror movie,hush,mark tonderai,movie,movie review,preview,review,thriller