Film Review – The Boy Next Door (2015)

Poor Jennifer Lopez. She seems to suffer the same affliction that another ‘friendly’ Hollywood female frequently has to endure – namely that no-one, neither public nor critic alike, will take her seriously. How about, for instance, her performance in the new thriller The Boy Next Door (2015). Now clearly neither her – nor anyone else in the film for that matter – are going to win any awards. However – like her turn in the romcom Monster-in-Law (2005) which was widely derided by the critics at the time – there is nothing actually wrong with Lopez in The Boy Next Door if the film is watched in the spirit in which its intended and taken as a bit of fun.

Claire (Lopez) – a local high-school English teacher – is feeling emotionally vulnerable. In the middle of a painful separation from her husband Garret (John Corbett) and trying to cope singlehandedly with her teenage son Kevin (Ian Nelson) she, understandably, feels in need of a little affection. So, when handsome teenager Noah (Ryan Guzman) moves in next door to look after his ill uncle, Claire quickly falls for the amiable newcomer. Following an evening where things go a bit ‘to far’ with Noah, Claire realises that she has made an error of judgement which could have potentially catastrophic consequences for her career. She soon discovers however that the seemingly charming Noah has a much darker side, which begins to emerge with devastating and far-reaching repercussions not just for Claire but also for those close to her.

First, lets establish what this film is – a taut thriller in which a young man becomes infatuated with his teacher after she makes an error of judgement, having been caught and used by him when she was feeling vulnerable, low and emotionally confused. As such the premise of the film is reasonably straight forward, never making the pretence of being anything other than an edgy thriller, peppered with the occasional unexpected, sharp shock. With this in mind it works irably. There are a few genuinely tense and scary moments from the middle of the film onwards, made all the more effective as up until then the film takes time to establish itself and its characters without rushing headlong into the frights as so many films of this type do. As a result you actually feel for the central character of Claire and her friend and work colleague Vicky (Kristin Chenoweth), as they become embroiled in a nightmare which threatens to mushroom beyond all expectations and understanding.

Indeed it is Lopez and Chenoweth who make this film worth watching. Lopez is marvellous as the teacher who finds herself in over-her-head with a student who’s a lot more canny and manipulative than she, or anyone else, could have expected. She brings real emotion to the part, giving a performance which is remarkably good if people could just see past the popular ‘J.Lo’ image. It is Chenoweth however who stands out bringing a believability to Vicky, and a palpable sense of mounting unease as she realises what is happening firstly to her friend Claire and then herself as she becomes increasingly involved in the horrific events which unfold. Though the remains of the cast – including Guzman as the psychotic Noah – give irable , it is without doubt the two women who carry the film, making it the memorable event it is.

Lets be honest though, what you’re really looking for from a film like this are the thrills. Whilst nothing in this department, for the most part, is particularly new, what is on view will be enough to keep all but the most jaded viewer close enough to the edge of the their seat so as not to feel cheated: the ending in particular makes the film worth seeing. Ultimately a lot of cinema audiences – both critics and the general public – should stop taking things so seriously and accept films like The Boy Next Door for what they are. Then they might actually enjoy the experience of going to the cinema.

[rating=3]1/2
Cleaver Patterson

Genre: Thriller Distributor: Universal Pictures Release Date: 27th February 2015 (UK) Rating: 15 Director: Rob Cohen Cast:Jennifer Lopez, Ryan Guzman, Kristin Chenoweth, John Corbett, Kristin Chenoweth