House at the End of the Street

...borrows the framework from a famous horror movie, and though giving away the name of that movie reveals too much—though not all, to the film’s credit—it’s sturdy enough to support a new interpretation.

...knows exactly how to drum up chills for its target teen girl audience.

Among the bright spots is Lawrence, who makes Elissa a sassy, bright, realistic teenager. The mother/daughter dynamic she shares with Shue is, at first, one of the better things about the film as the actresses spar gently.