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A spooky, decaying house, a young man with a terrifying secret and a teenage girl with a mind of her own are classic elements of horror-thriller movies, but in House at the End of the Street, a team of ambitious and creative filmmakers transcends the genre with moody, stylish visuals, realistic and relatable characters, and mysterious secrets hidden in plain sight.

Mysterious Secrets Hidden in Plain Sight Read More

That included exploring the relationships between Elissa (Jennifer Lawrence), her mother (Elizabeth Shue), and the enigmatic boy next door (Max Thieriot). “I had just had a child and I felt strongly that I wanted to deal with the issue of parenthood,” says the director. “I never forgot that this film is a thriller, but it is also about parents and how they can help us become who we are. And it’s a love story. A girl moves into a new home. She ends up falling for the neighbor boy who’s been through this horrific event. Everyone in the community is against them. It’s a very romantic notion.”

Theme, Concept and Characters Read More

The filmmakers scored a major casting coup when they selected Jennifer Lawrence to play Elissa. Lawrence, whose career has skyrocketed in the past two years, had already starred in the searing independent drama Winter’s Bone, for which she would be nominated for an Oscar at age 20. But she had not yet been cast in the role that would propel her to stardom, Katniss Everdeen in the action blockbuster The Hunger Games. Still, according to Aaron Ryder, her potential was unmistakable.

Difficult Role for Jennifer Lawrence Read More

To play Elissa’s errant mother, Sarah, the filmmakers brought in another Academy Award-nominated actress, Elisabeth Shue. “Elisabeth is a great actress and a really special person as well,” says Tonderai. “She’s just quality. It was also great getting to work with someone I had a crush on as a kid.”

An Unique Dimension to Mother – Daughter Relationship Read More

As Ryan, Elissa’s love interest in the film, Max Thieriot reminded Lawrence of an acting legend and one of her favorite stars. “He’s like Paul Newman reincarnated,” she says. “And it takes a lot for me to say that—I love Paul Newman. He is good-looking and immensely talented, but he’s also like a cowboy. He doesn’t seem to care. He sits in his trailer and listens to country music and chews tobacco. It’s sexy.”

Riveting and Nuanced Performances Read More

Gil Bellows, an Emmy-winning producer as well as a veteran actor, joined the cast as local law enforcement officer Bill Weaver, whose past relationship with Ryan colors his budding romance with Sarah. “Gil has that cop masculinity, with a bit of darkness underneath,” says Shue. “That kind of mystery is really interesting.”

Let’s Meet Weaver and Sarah Read More

House at the End of the Street’s story is set in suburban Pennsylvania, but the filmmakers took their production to Ottawa, Ontario, for the 28-day shoot. “I never imagined we’d be shooting this film in Ottawa,” says Ryder. “I’ve shot films in Toronto and Vancouver, but I’d never been to Ottawa. I didn’t quite know what to expect. I didn’t even know if there was going to be a crew base there. But Rob Menzies, our line producer, lured us there. There was a film that was just finishing, a crew that was available, and the incentives attracted us.”

Pennsylvania and Ottawa Shootings Read More