Director: Mark Tonderai
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Elisabeth Shue, Max Thieriot, Nolan Gerard Funk
Running Time: 96 minutes
Certificate: 15
Extras: The Making Of, Trailer
When you first look at HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET it seems quite promising – especially with two Oscar nominated actresses as the leads of the film – but with a dire script even well-respected actresses can’t save the film.
David Loucka has built himself quite the reputation for making dull horror films, e.g. DREAM HOUSE, and this story is no different. There are moments that make you jump, but these are thanks to the sound editing, and there is a great twist 30 minutes before the film finishes, but Loucka gets ahead of himself and piles on further plot contrivances.
The film, shot back in 2010, shows off Jennifer Lawrence talents who has the dry-witted teenager perfectly nuanced at the films beginning. Sadly as the film goes on, her character moves from headstrong to lovestruck, something that seems way beyond her. Even watching her character’s moment of despair you know she is going to get out of trouble thanks to her bad ass aura – she is way too good to have psychos try and kill her.
HOUSE AT THE END OF STREET hits the targeted teen market well, which they mention in the making of, and is a perfect horror for a 13 year old to watch; filled with angst and clichéd horror conventions (even the high school douchebags!), but if you are looking for a total ‘crap your pants’ type of horror, you’ll find more scares watching X-Factor auditions.
Filled with too many clichés to be completely satisfying, HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET passes for enjoyable guff, which given the talent involved is a disappointment.
Extras: After watching The Making Of, you will start to wonder where you have seen the director before. To save you the IMDB search, he was once in Kevin And Perry Go Large…he’s come a long way hasn’t he?
HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET is released January 28th.
