House At The End Of The Street

Released: 2012

Directed By: Mark Tonderai

Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Elizabeth Shue

Certificate: 15

Reviewed By: Darryl Griffiths

Making her mark via blockbuster franchises X Men and The Hunger Games whilst mixing it up with indie hits ‘Winter’s Bone’ and ‘Like Crazy’, Jennifer Lawrence has the world at her feet. So it’s somewhat surprising, that she has drifted down ‘predictable’ lane and tested the waters of the horror genre. Starring in such mediocrity has destroyed many a leading ladies’ career.. Can Lawrence break the curse with ‘House At The End Of The Street’?

After an eye opening masscare of a prologue, we are greeted with the presence of aspiring singer Elissa (Lawrence) and her domineering mother Sarah (Elisabeth Shue). Embedding into a new neighbourhood with pompous locals proves no picnic, especially when they are forewarned of the tragic tale that occurred. Conned into the notion the nearby home is ‘deserted’, Elissa soon encounters surviving son Ryan (Max Thieriot) who is still very much based in the house. Still tormented, Elissa befriends the guy and sparks soon fly. It soon becomes clear however, that Ryan is hiding a devastating secret..

‘House At The End Of The Street’ is a classic case of an intriguing idea ultimately stifled by cliches. It may have been promoted as a ‘teen horror’ flick beforehand, but the film is very much grounded in ‘suspense thriller’ territory.

Sadly, Tonderai’s execution of the material is so half-hearted that the ‘scares’ fail to muster any excitement and proves too tame to truly grip. The script’s reliance on convoluted plot twists doesn’t help proceedings either, with the final payoff likely to trigger groans rather than gasps.

The saving grace here is the on screen mother/daughter combo of Lawrence/Shue. Collectively having just enough talent between them to make the film ‘bearable’, it proves no mean feat as they navigate through a script laced with cringeworthy dialogue. Thieriot may initially engage as a socially challenged loner, but the underlying menace never quite convinces.

Deathly dull and awfully laboured in its pacing, ‘House At The End Of The Street’ will only make you beg one question. What was Miss Lawrence thinking?