Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Dumb thriller will disappoint Hunger Games fans.
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House at the End of the Street
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 7 parent reviews
Based on 34 kid reviews
Kids say that this movie is not as scary as expected, with many describing it as slow and lacking in genuine thrills, despite some suspenseful moments. While some younger viewers enjoyed the film and thought it was entertaining, others criticized it for being dull and offering a predictable storyline, suggesting that it may not be suitable for very young audiences due to its violent content and language.
- not very scary
- predictable storyline
- some enjoyable moments
- suitable for teens
- mixed reviews
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Teen Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence) and her single mom (Elisabeth Shue) move from busy Chicago into a giant home in a small town; they got it cheap because it's next door to a creepy house where a small girl apparently killed her parents. Having trouble fitting in, Elissa is drawn to the college-age Ryan (Max Thieriot), who lives in the murder house, even though nobody in town likes or trusts him. Unfortunately, Ryan appears to be hiding something, but can Elissa find out what it is before it's too late?
Is It Any Good?
This is one of those movies in which the nonsensical plot disintegrates the moment anyone starts asking questions. In 2011, another David Loucka screenplay, Dream House, attracted a top-notch cast and was turned into a terrible thriller. Amazingly, the exact same thing has now happened with another Loucka project, also with "House" in the title. The movie requires the characters to act stupidly to help move things forward, and if they had seen any other movies, they would know not to do these things.
Worse, the antagonist seems to have supernatural powers at various points -- able to sneak up on people or dispatch well-trained opponents -- but at other times is unable to hear characters creaking up the stairs. Oddly, the two Oscar-nominated leads, Shue and Lawrence, are quite affecting in the movie's straightforward scenes of character development. If HOUSE AT THE END OF THE STREET had only left all the dumb thriller stuff behind and concentrated on a mother-daughter drama, it might have gone somewhere.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the romantic relationship between the teen characters. Does it seem realistic? How is sex a factor?
House at the End of the Street includes several murders without very much violence and gore. Does it still make its point? How does it compare to other thrillers and horror movies you've seen?
Is the movie scary? Why or why not?
Movie Details
- In theaters : September 21, 2012
- On DVD or streaming : January 8, 2013
- Cast : Elisabeth Shue , Jennifer Lawrence , Max Thieriot
- Director : Mark Tonderai
- Inclusion Information : Black Movie Director(s) , Multiracial Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Relativity Media
- Genre : Thriller
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : intense sequences of violence and terror, thematic elements, language, some teen partying and brief drug material
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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