The End of Oak Street

The Opening Whistle: A Neighborhood Upended

The whistle has blown, and audiences are buzzing! The first chapter in “The End of Oak Street” is a sci-fi mystery that has the entire audience intrigued. David Robert Mitchell is known for layering on the suspense and ambiguity throughout his films. He has done just that with this one. You think of your quiet suburban street, your morning coffee, your routines, and your familiar suburban house, and then wham, off goes a whistle from the universe and your hometown, your street, and your house are all mysteriously transposed to an unknown terrifying location. This has to have significant existential implications for everyone living on this Oak Street and the Platt family led by the star power of Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor. This film has a strong family drama premise, and the mystery of where the lead characters are and why they are there will definitely sustain audience interest for the 1 hour and 39 minutes of this nail-biting film. Mitchell has masterful writing skills to open a story with a level of suspense and anxiety that will truly engage the audience and set the tone for what is an incredibly challenging and improbable story. This first quarter of the film had me intrigued and wondering what is next.

Star Players on the Field

A spotlight of star players can elevate most films when stakes are high, and there are plenty to shine on in “The End of Oak Street.” As the matriarch of the Platt family, Anne Hathaway portrays a character that is equally fierce and emotional. It’s as if she is fighting tooth and nail to keep her family unit together when the "the family that plays together" smashes into anarchy. Parts of her performance make her relatable, but most importantly, it brings a very human malleability to the fantasy of survival and the struggle for protection that the audience can engage with. Ewan McGregor brings his brand of determined despair as the steady and increasingly frantic presence. He is portraying the paternal confused determination mixed with the unknown and the terror of the new world. Alongside these two, Christian Convery is the perfect counterpart to the two leads as the youthful perspective that adds the final layer to the family dynamic. He is one of the audience's fresh eyes, the perfect entry as he adopts the shocked audience reaction to the unpredictable and insane new world. Beyond brilliant cast performances, Mitchell’s directing highlights the overall film design. In both the eerie, abandoned Oak Street and the uneasy, yet beautiful, surroundings beyond it, the design plays a major role. The clever and superb use of sound design maintains a high audience interest and anticipation of what’s to come.

The ensemble plays through obstacles to keep the ball in play.

The ensemble plays through barriers to keep the ball in play.

The ensemble stays engaged to keep the ball in play.

The ensemble stays locked in to keep the ball in play.

The Momentum Swings: Highs and Lows

"The End of Oak Street," like many films, has peaks and valleys. In its peaks, it is an equally powerful and unstoppable film. There is a good deal of suspense in thenéere and in the family's gradual understanding of their reality and new situation. In many ways, this film captures the audience in the dark and sinister unknown, as Mitchell has a way of bringing the audience into his psychological darkness. However, like a hockey team, there are stretches that give the audience the sense that all of the offensive momentum has been lost. The pacing in the story, beyond the initial shock, gets a little choppy at times. Some of the character developments, while present, underwhelm, and as a result, a fair amount of emotional development is left on the table. There are many instances in which tried and true genre elements are played, and while they are effective, it is clear that the film does not push the genre boundaries enough to reflect the innovative premise. The cast does a good job of minimizing the lulls, but there is a lot of energy loss that arguably could have easily been avoided. Because of the PG-13 rating, at times audience is left wanting more, as the film could have gone a lot deeper with the unsettling elements of its premise.

The Full-Time Scoreline: Is It A Winner?

So what's the score at the end of "The End of Oak Street?" This one is one of those that hits out of the park to start, flashes genius consistently, and features some otherworldly performances. However, it has trouble holding that form throughout, making it a solid win for sci-fi and mystery genre loungers that appreciate a solid cast and a subtle atmosphere. For those wanting to dive into some deeper thoughts and existential dread in the confines of family drama, this one has a lot to chew on for the low price point. It's not the complete and perfect piece of work that will keep you riveted and satisfy you in every way as you've seen before. That said, with a 7.6 audience rating, this film offers more than enough to hold your attention. Overall, there are some incredible flashes of brilliance with a deep amount of entertainment and emotional performance that makes it a must watch, even if it doesn't earn the championship title. It's a solid Friday night watch in a sea of cinematic offerings.