Jennifer Lawrence’s career has been absolutely perfect: having already received an Oscar nomination for her role in the character drama ‘Winter’s Bone’ in 2010, Lawrence would go on to star in ‘Hunger Games’ and ‘X-Men’. Films also took off in blockbuster theaters, eventually winning an Academy Award with “Silver Linings.” The horror thriller ‘House At The End Of The Street’, for which Lawrence was in front of the camera in 2010, is somewhat overlooked in this success story.
The film wasn’t released until 2012, actually in the middle of Jennifer Lawrence’s prime. Perhaps with sensible foresight, but perhaps also because people didn’t really want to believe in the film. But the latter would have been without reason, because with “House At The End Of The Street” director Mark Tonderai (“Spell”) has created a truly worthwhile genre contribution! Haven’t seen the movie yet? Then you can listen to it today, February 21 at 10 p.m., on Tele 5.
That’s what ‘House at the End of the Street’ is about
Sarah (Elisabeth Shue) has just gone through a divorce and wants to start a whole new chapter with her teenage daughter Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence). That is why they completely leave their old lives behind. Fortunately, they quickly find a house that exactly meets their expectations. It is in a small, secluded place where the two immediately feel safe. But then strange things happen.
It soon turns out that the city is hiding a dark secret. A few years ago, a terrible murder took place in the house next door, in which the daughter of the family murdered her parents in their sleep and then disappeared without a trace. Only her brother Ryan (Max Thieriot) remained, with whom Elissa gradually becomes closer. But the more intimate the relationship becomes, the more dangerous the situation seems for Elissa…
Dark coming-of-age with JLaw
The official FILMSTARTS review of “House At The End Of The Street” gave it a very solid 3.5 out of 5 possible stars. The conclusion of our author Tim Slagman is as follows: “Director Mark Tonderai approaches his characters with great respect and very carefully, This makes his psychological thriller a pleasantly non-speculative and sensitive contribution to the genre, which is always at its weakest when the turnbuckle has to be tightened in a conventional manner.
In fact, ‘House At The End Of The Street’ works primarily as a dark coming-of-age story that’s all about the main character having to learn some hard lessons about life. The film can also count on Jennifer Lawrence, who proves her skills as a character actress at an early age and her Elissa very vividly creates a balance between disorientation and willpower. It’s a shame that the shocking moments are so uninspired in direct comparison.