Released in 2012, House at the End of the Street is a psychological thriller that stars Jennifer Lawrence (Mother!) and Max Thieriot (Bates Motel).
The movie follows a mother and daughter who move next door to a boy whose parents had been murdered by his younger sister, who had brain damage from a previous accident.
Apparently the girl went missing after committing the atrocities and was presumed dead, and the boy lived at his aunt’s until she passed away a year before the film takes place.
The boy moved back into the house his family died in and befriends his new neighbor. After a brief romance, she discovers his secret that he’d been keeping his sister in the basement and taking care of her since she killed their parents.
However, by the end, we learn that the sister had actually died and the boy’s parents forced him to act like her during his early developmental years.
With an impeccable plot twist, we find out that the boy was actually to blame for his parents’ murders and had been continually replacing his sister with other women he’d kidnapped and killed over time.
Time- 3
Although this film has been out for over a decade, it doesn’t seem to come up much in conversation within the horror community. It also has a 12% on Rotten Tomatoes’ Tomatometer and a 41% Audience Score. However, a few solid points are earned for it having good pacing and sitting at just a little over an hour and a half.
Rewatchability- 6
I really enjoy rewatching the film every few years because I always forget how much I like it. I also love watching it with others that have never seen it because seeing first reactions to this movie’s plot twists is really entertaining. However, I really don’t watch it all that often, nor do I necessarily consider it a favorite.
Cinematography/Editing- 7
A lot of the shots in House at the End of the Street are really eye-catching because the lighting and scenery add to each thing that’s supposed to be scary in each scene. For example, the thin, long dimly lit hallway in the basement of the house leading to Carrie Anne’s room mirrors her feeling of abandonment and eeriness.
Plot- 8
The storyline is pretty unique itself but is definitely inspired by many classic horror tropes. However, the storyline and plot twists are interesting enough to not necessarily see coming, adding to a unique watch overall.
Acting- 8
I think each actor adds their own intensity to each major character trait they each possess. Jennifer Lawrence carries a curiosity that works very well for her character, while Max Thieriot remains reserved for most of the film before he goes berserk.
Costume Design/Special Effects- 6
The only major costume that seemed to matter was Carrie Anne’s nightgown. She was always wearing it, but it’s interesting to consider how Ryan would’ve had to buy others the “older” Carrie Anne became.
Gruesome Factor- 5
For a PG-13 rated thriller, they do a pretty good job at showing just enough to make the film pretty creepy without having to rate it R. There were a few scenes that made me shudder a bit, like when Ryan snapped his bully’s ankle and Elissa burnt her wrist with a lamp to escape being bound.
Shock Value- 7
The storyline really adds a lot to how shocking some of this film is. However, some of the plot twists are possible to see coming because of the subtle hints they leave like the empty contact box that’s with the empty tampon box in the garbage that Elissa discovered.
Believability- 6
Looking back, the idea of a boy getting away with double homicide because his parents were able to cover up the fact that their daughter died and was replaced with their son is quite outlandish. However, I suppose there is a level of believability that comes with understanding how a child might go a bit crazy from that type of unresolved trauma.
Ending- 7
I think the end plot twist is one of the most mind-blowing I have seen in a while and the way that they briefly hint at it all along is really awesome. I also like how Ryan is sent away to a mental institution by the very end.
Points Total: 63% out of 100%
I really don’t hate this movie personally, although my score doesn’t reflect very highly. I think it’s a really interesting and unique storyline that is fun to follow and more fun to rewatch. I also love Jennifer Lawrence’s acting in the horror final girl type of role.