Jennifer Lawrence, fresh from her success in The Hunger Games, stars in House at the End of the Street, a 2012 film that leans heavily into the teen horror thriller genre. The movie sets up a classic creepy scenario: a mother and daughter move next door to a house with a dark past, where a double murder occurred. The sole survivor, a teenage boy, still resides there, naturally setting the stage for suspense and unease.
While House at the End of the Street avoids supernatural elements, it firmly plants itself in the realm of teen-centric thrillers, much like Twilight catered to teen romance with a vampire twist and The Hunger Games offered dystopian action for young adults. This film targets a similar demographic, likely aiming for the 15+ audience who enjoy suspenseful narratives with relatable young characters. For viewers familiar with the tropes of horror and thriller films, House at the End of the Street might feel predictable. The movie navigates well-trodden paths of suspense, likely hitting familiar beats and scares that seasoned genre enthusiasts have encountered before. However, for its intended teenage audience, and those newer to the genre, these familiar elements can still provide an engaging and thrilling experience.
Despite its reliance on genre clichés, House at the End of the Street achieved commercial success, a testament to Jennifer Lawrence’s box office appeal. Her presence undoubtedly drew audiences, even if the film itself didn’t break new ground in the horror-thriller landscape. The movie’s title itself, House at the End of the Street, is arguably generic, perhaps reflecting a certain lack of originality in the overall concept. Ultimately, while experienced horror fans might find the film lacks novelty, House at the End of the Street likely delivers enough suspense and star power to entertain its target teen audience and those seeking a familiar, if not groundbreaking, thriller experience.
