Some movies bring you to tears. Some movies give you hope for the future. “The House at the End of the Street,” however, made me dread ever having children or a boyfriend due to fear that they might one day to try kill me.
“The House at the End of the Street” actually has a captivating plot unlike any other horror movie that has recently hit box offices. Seventeen year old Elissa Cassidy, played by Jennifer Lawrence (“The Hunger Games”) moves into a remote house away from her hometown with her mother Sarah, played by Elizabeth Shue. The house just a few feet away from them, however, was the scene of a tragic crime that happened just four short years ago.
Rumor has it that a deranged thirteen year old girl by the name of Carrie Anne (Eva Link) killed both her parents and ran away into the forest, never to be seen again. The house was allegedly vacant ever since, but it is soon discovered that Carrie Anne’s older brother Ryan (Max Thieriot) has been living there ever since the accident in order to hold on to the one piece of his parents he has left.
The majority of girls these days seem to be attracted to the mysterious, brooding, bad boy types, which is exactly why Elissa is attracted to Ryan. Despite her mothers protests, Elissa befriends him after a series of unfortunate events, and soon finds out the truth behind Carrie Anne.
Lawrence’s performance was stunning and realistic; the image of Katniss was completely erased from my memory as she tangled me in the web of her new role.
I can honestly say that this movie kept me on the edge of my seat. Even now, as I’m writing this article at night all alone in my room, I’m constantly peeking at my door, dreading the moment that Carrie Anne barges in and leaps at me. I found myself hugging my knees and biting my nails in anticipation scene after scene. Everyone loves a good horror movie, but “The House at the End of the Street” is so much more than that. It’s a horror story, a thriller, and a story of loss and the strength it takes to get through it.
Well written, well directed, well cast, and well executed, “The House at the End of the Street” will leave your jaw on the floor and your heart racing until the very last second.
