House At The End Of The Street (2012)

Director: Mark Tonderai

Writer: David Loucka (Screenplay) Jonathan Mostow (Story)

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

 

Story: Teenager Elissa (Lawrence) and her mother Sarah (Shue) move to a small town. They move into a house next to the one where a family was murdered by their young daughter before her apparent death. Elissa befriends the estranged son of the family Ryan (Thieriot) and it soon becomes clear that he has been keeping a big secret from the town and its people.

 

Verdict: A suspenseful horror thriller that will keep you at the edge of your seat from start to finish.

Story: The story is very good it mixes elements of some of the greatest horror thrillers to make a story with plenty of twists you won’t see coming. It tries to hold back on the twists a bit too long which stops some of the characters developing as well as they should. In the end it is a story that never lets you rest because there is a jump in nearly every scene. (8/10)

 

Actor Review: Jennifer Lawrence – Teenage girl who goes against her mother’s wishes and tries to be a rebel throughout, also tries to have a romance with estranged boy in the neighbourhood. It is a good performance from Jennifer but you expect nothing more from this young starlet. This isn’t her best but she does a great job. Babe Watch Award (8/10)

 

Actor Review: Max Thieriot – Plays the estranged neighbour with plenty of secrets and how this character starts of very subdued and loving before showing off his true colours. This is a great performance it has glimpses of a young Norman Bates which is kind of ironic as Max plays a young Norman Bates’ brother in ‘The Bates Motel’. Star Performance Award, Scene Stealer Award, Scariest Character Award, Lesley Stud Muffin Award (9/10)

Actor Review: Elisabeth Shue – Overprotective mother who doesn’t want her daughter to follow the same paths on mistakes that she made. It is a standard performance that you won’t remember when you look back at this film, (6/10)

 

Director Review: Mark Tonderai – A good pieces of directing that will leave you wondering where he will go next as he has this genre down to a tee. (9/10)

 

Horror: Great aspects of Horror that really work for jumps throughout. (9/10)

Thriller: Good suspense throughout. (9/10)

Believability: Knowing what people are capable of this is actually believable which makes it all the more frightening. (8/10)

Chances Of Tears: No Tears (0/10)

Settings: Good use of isolation, creepy woods as well as creepy houses, works well through the hole of film. (9/10)
Oscar Chances: NONE

Chances of Sequel: It could have a sequel or even a prequel. One thing stopping it would be Jennifer Lawrence being a mega star now.

Suggestion: This is a good addition to the horror genre and its mix of suspense and jumps will satisfy most horror fans. Beyond that it may not appeal to many other film fans, maybe the odd one who is seeing what Jennifer Lawrence films were like before she hit the heights she is at now. (Give It A Go)

 

Best Part: A timid Ryan is getting beaten down by some bullies and we see what he is capable of.

Worst Part: The mums constant nagging.

 

Overall: A suspense filled thriller

 

Lesley’s Rating 75%

My Rating 80%