The End of Oak Street and The Last House Take Local Screens

Aspen —The End of Oak Street delivers better sci-fi. The Last House remains gripping.

Both films hit local screens this week, offering neighbors a choice between dino action and domestic dread.

In the suburban adventure, the characters aren’t happy to see the dinosaurs. You will be.

It’s not part of the franchise, but it plays like the Jurassic Park movie we’ve been waiting for. The family at the center has real heart. There are flashes of character depth. The dino action beats anything in the sequels.

David Robert Mitchell wrote and directed it. He’s known for It Follows, the chilling horror movie. This film is darker than some ’80s classics. It also has moments of sweetness and hope.

The story follows a suburban family in the early 1980s. Slowly, strange things happen in their neighborhood. The family fights for their lives.

Anne Hathaway carries the weight. She is fantastic as the mother. Her character struggles with a strained marriage and secret writerly aspirations. It’s clear how much she loves her family. The tension between the parents fuels the movie’s most interesting arc.

Hathaway balances likability and relatability beautifully. No matter how you feel about dinosaurs, you want her to win.

The movie earns three stars out of four. Worth watching.

On Netflix, The Last House explores a different fear. It’s the nightmare of being locked in your house forever.

Director Louis Leterrier spins this sci-fi thriller from the genre. The science isn’t terribly well thought out. Abandoning an explanation might have been more effective.

The human drama is gripping, though. These are good, likeable people. You root for them as they reach the end of their ropes. Their ingenuity during deepening crisis offers a surprising source of hope.

We meet a mom, a dad, and two kids before the crisis hits. A sudden storm seals them into their homes. Doors won’t open. Windows stay shut. Walls offer no escape.

They prepare to ride out a few months. They help each other. As months turn into years, they realize drastic action is necessary.

Wagner Moura and Greta Lee play the parents. They bring nuance to their characters. Their house almost serves as its own character, changing and crumbling with the dire circumstances.

Make no mistake: The science in the second film is secondary to the survival story. The house reflects the family’s state of mind.

Locals looking for entertainment have two solid options. The suburban adventure offers classic action with modern execution. The Last House keeps you hooked regardless of the plot holes.

Feinsinger wrote in the Vail Daily about these picks. The assessment is clear. One film does sci-fi better. The other keeps you watching.

Read that again. You don’t need perfect science to feel the fear.

The End of Oak Street gets the grade. The Last House keeps you watching.