HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET

RYAN: Here we go again.  Another horror movie with such promise, a couple notable actors and such high expectations.  And this time, I’m not as disappointed as the previous films in the genre this year. Jennifer Lawrence stars with Elisabeth Shue and Gil Bellows, whom I’ve loved since Ally McBeal! 

KIM: Jennifer Lawrence’s extreme success with The Hunger Games and Elisabeth Shue making a comeback on CSI; I’ve loved her since the 80s.  I’m dating myself.  Anyway I was underwhelmed by this movie.

RYAN: I’m surprised.  My expectations are always super high walking into a scary movie because I’m so desperately rooting for it to be scary.  And this one wasn’t disappointing.  It’s not a must see or insta-classic horror film, but it’s slightly better than average. 

KIM: It is better than The Apparition or Chernobyl Diaries or The Possession which we’ve seen earlier this year.

RYAN: Maybe the bar has just been totally lowered lately.  Maybe that’s why I liked it more than you.

KIM: The cast was good but Elisabeth and Gil were severely underused.

RYAN: Some parts of the story and script were fascinating though.  The way the plot unfolds is kind of brilliant and you begin to realize things just as you’re supposed to, without it ever being weighed down by predictability. But on the other hand, the script had some major problems; like the random turn Jenny and Lizzie’s characters took halfway though the movie.

KIM: Yeah it jumped and didn’t make sense sometimes.  Some parts were manipulative-scary because of sound or suspense but all in all, I wasn’t scared in this film.

RYAN: I wasn’t either but the climax, the last twenty five minutes, was pretty suspenseful and exciting.  Of course there were plenty of those cliche moments, like, “Oh God, nobody would actually go after that sound in the basement in real life.”  But that’s typical.  I’m forgiving.

KIM: I guess I’m not as forgiving.  I would have appreciated some more originality.

RYAN: I really liked Jenny Law.  She actually elevated the material for me.  Some lines may have come across completely corny coming from another actress.  She really committed and was very natural.

KIM: She is good.  I just wasn’t really feeling it.

RYAN: And this movie certainly raised the cute-factor with both of the young guys – Max Thierot, who looks like a cross between Ryans Phillippe and Gosling, and Nolan Gerard Funk.  Both super cute.

KIM: I recognize them from other things. 

RYAN: It’s a little slow to start and is almost more of a relationship drama for the first half but it’s only 90 minutes and held my interest.

— BOTTOM LINE —

KIM: I found it slow-moving at times.  At best it’s a rental but if you’re in the mood for a big, good horror movie, I’d even say skip it.

RYAN: I just liked this better than the others we’ve seen recently and while it’s not a must see on the big screen, you still won’t feel like you wasted your money if you do see it in the theater.  Overall, however, I’d say rent it.

— RATING —