House at the End of the Street

Movie Title--  House at the End of the Street

Release Year--  2012

Running Time--  1 Hour and 40 Minutes

Director--  David Loucka and Jonathan Mostow

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

After moving into a new home with her mother, Elissa learns that the house at the end of the street was the scene of a horrible murder and the only surviving family member still lives in the house.

On a stormy night, a psychotic young girl murders her parents and then runs into the woods.

Four years later, the newly divorced Dr. Sarah Cassidy moves her daughter Elissa to an upscale little town.  Through the trees in their backyard Sarah and Elissa can see the house at the end of the street.  Sarah has been told that no one lives there but awakens one night to see a light come on in the house very early in the morning.  The next day at a neighborhood function, they learn that the house was the scene of a double murder by the family's daughter and that now the son lives there, preparing it to be sold.  The neighbors believe that the home being there brings their property values down and they don't have anything nice to say about the young man that is living there.

At the party Elissa meets Tyler Renyolds (Nolan Gerard Fuck) and when they are at school, he invites her to an after school meeting.  She decides to go, only to find that it is a big party.  When Tyler tries to force himself on Elissa, she decides to leave the party.  While she is walking home a car pulls up next to her and the young man driving introduces himself as Ryan Jacobson (Max Thieriot), her neighbor at the end of the street.  She declines the ride but a few moments later it begins to rain and she sees Ryan has stopped to wait on her.  

Elissa and Ryan start to get closer and it bothers her mother.  Sarah invites Ryan to the house for dinner and after having one too many drinks embarrasses Elissa with her questions to Ryan about his family and then she tells Ryan that she does not want him alone with her daughter.  Elissa, then being hurt and embarrassed by her mother, makes it her mission to help Ryan, although she may find there is more to Ryan than meets the eye.

I am not exactly sure how I feel about this film.  I thought it was decent but there wasn't even any kind of horror elements until there was about half a hour left in the film, besides the first few minutes.  It seemed more like a romance for more than 2/3's of the film, almost as if the scary stuff was just an afterthought.  Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed Jennifer Lawerance and Max Thieriot's performances but the film was a little deceptive when it comes to how much thrilling content was actually there.  This film relied heavily on story build-up in order to move to the darker side of the story but it just took way too long to get there.

I think that this film is alright but if you are going into this wanting to be thrilled, you will be disappointed.  You may be better off just watching the film with no expectations.  Make your own decision when it comes to this one but what ever you decide, Don't Forget the Popcorn!