House at the End of the Street Movie (2012)

House at the End of the Street is a misleading title because the house in question is not in a street. It stands at the edge of the woods. It's a lovely house and the rent is very reasonable, but there is a reason it is so cheap. Four years earlier, the neighbors were murdered by their daughter, Carrie-Ann. It was very brutal, she used a hammer, and nobody wants to live next door to a crime scene—except Sarah (Elisabeth Shue). Recently divorced, she needs a place where she and her daughter, Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence), can make a fresh start and the house at the edge of the woods ticks all the right boxes.

Sarah and Elissa do not have the best of relationships. Sarah is a doctor and spends most of her time at work. She also has a drink problem; which does not improve the situation. Then, when Elissa falls for Carrie-Ann's brother, Ryan, Sarah becomes overprotective and this only adds further fuel to a relationship that is too heated already.

Ryan was living with his aunt when Carrie-Ann hammered out her frustrations on her parents. Now the local community shuns him, and the Sherriff appears to be the only person batting in Ryan's corner, but even his kindly assurances are not enough to calm Sarah's fears; so she continues to try and prevent him from seeing her daughter.

The budding romance between Elissa and Ryan is an important part of the story, but—even without Sarah's interference—the relationship is complicated by the fact that Ryan has a secret. Although the local urban legend states that his sister still wanders the woods, Ryan knows better, and regularly takes trays of food down to his cellar. The tension steps up a notch or two when he forgets to lock the cellar door.

This is a movie with a twist that many viewers may see coming long before the end, making the twist more of a confirmation of suspicions than a surprise, but House at the End of the Street still has plenty to offer; and some of the scenes in the woods provide edge of the seat excitement. Many guys may consider the movie worth watching just for a chance to ogle Jennifer Lawrence and—let's face it—at forty-nine-years-old Elisabeth Shue is still worth an ogle or two as well. Her Karate Kid days may be long behind her, but she's certainly kept herself in shape. House at the End of the Street rates an easy seven out of ten, but full marks go to Lawrence and Shue; the movie wouldn't have been the same without them.