When it comes to dinosaurs on the big screen, the Jurassic Park franchise has always reigned supreme. But as the series’ popularity wanes, the door has opened for other, more inventive prehistoric stories. Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, The End of Oak Street is a roaring experience underpinned by a dark throughline.
When their neighbourhood is transported to an unknown time, the Platt family must come together to survive. Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor lead the picture. They are joined by Maisy Stella, Christian Convery and Jordan Alexa Davis.
The End of Oak Street begins in a picturesque place filled with “happy” families. But as the narrative progresses, we see that all is not what it seems. The film uses this to take its time in the first act, establishing characters with much-needed depth. This is where Anne Hathaway delivers a stellar performance. As a mother questioning her future, she plays a devoted wife concealing bleak intentions. While Ewan McGregor is not quite as good in his role, he is still a reliable co-star for Hathaway.
By creating the dichotomy between the outside view of a happy family and what truly lies below, the film crafts a thematic throughline that continues once dinosaurs appear. In this regard, the movie morphs from a coming-of-age story ripped from the 80s into a survival film that isn’t afraid to get “mean”. There is a darkness that runs through every scene of the movie, which offers an extra layer of storytelling. The action uses this to its advantage by being utterly brutal. Audiences are going to be quite surprised at how violent the film is. How David Robert Mitchell obtained a PG-13 rating remains a mystery.
Beyond the story and action, we are given a feature that allows its filmmakers to flex their creative muscles. Michael Gioulakis’s cinematography is exceedingly inventive, and often breaks the rules that most blockbusters follow. Unsurprisingly, Michael Giacchino’s score is wonderful and is an important instrument in the story’s tonal blend.
The End of Oak Street is a thrilling adventure with many interesting ideas both on the surface and beneath it. This is a film that isn’t afraid to shock its audience and, in doing so, conveys a narrative that will have you thinking for a long, long time. But even if you don’t wish to engage with the story’s emotional core, the 99-minute runtime is filled with enough thrills to keep you thoroughly entertained.