Review by Jon Donnis
What if an ordinary suburban neighbourhood was suddenly transported to a prehistoric world, leaving its residents surrounded by dinosaurs with a rather unfortunate appetite for humans? Written, co-produced and directed by David Robert Mitchell, this science fiction survival film stars Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor as a married couple whose family problems quickly become the least of their worries.
Set in 1982, the story follows Denise and Greg Platt (Anne Hathaway & Ewan McGregor), whose marriage is already struggling, along with their two children, Audrey and Brian. When a mysterious cosmic event transforms their familiar surroundings into a prehistoric landscape, the family must find a way to survive in a world they barely understand. With dinosaurs roaming the area and danger seemingly around every corner, staying alive becomes their only priority.
I like the basic premise. There is something genuinely unsettling about taking an ordinary residential street, complete with houses, gardens and familiar neighbours, and dropping it into an environment where humans are no longer at the top of the food chain. It is a simple but effective concept, and one that offers plenty of opportunities for suspense.
Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor are strong choices for the leading roles, and both deliver convincing performances. Their strained marriage gives the story some emotional weight, while their efforts to protect their children provide a solid foundation for the survival element. The family drama never quite reaches the same level of interest as the dinosaur encounters, but it gives the characters more to deal with than simply running away from whatever happens to be chasing them.
The visual effects are another positive. The CGI dinosaurs look impressive, and the film does a good job of making these creatures feel like a genuine threat. There is a certain appeal to seeing familiar suburban surroundings transformed into a prehistoric hunting ground, and the contrast between the two settings is one of the film's strongest features.
At around 90 minutes, the film also benefits from a sensible running time. It gets to the point without dragging things out unnecessarily, and there is enough happening to keep the story moving. I would much rather watch a film that gets on with its central idea than one that spends an extra hour explaining every little detail.
However, The End of Oak Street is not without its frustrations.
My biggest complaint is the complete absence of humour. There is barely a moment of levity, let alone a decent joke, which makes the whole experience feel unnecessarily serious. Even Jurassic Park managed to mix its suspense and danger with some memorable lighter moments. Here, everything feels relentlessly grim, and a little humour would have made the characters more engaging without undermining the danger.
I also remain unconvinced by the questionable decisions that characters inevitably make in creature films. When you find yourself surrounded by enormous prehistoric predators, common sense should be a priority. Unfortunately, that does not always happen here. I understand that characters need to find themselves in dangerous situations to keep the story moving, but there are moments when I found myself wondering what on earth they were thinking.
My other reservation is that, despite the interesting premise and impressive effects, the film never quite feels special. The dinosaurs look good, the cast does its job, and the survival story is perfectly watchable, but there is a familiar quality to the whole experience. We have seen plenty of films featuring humans being hunted by prehistoric creatures, and simply putting them in a suburban neighbourhood is not enough to make this one stand out.
Perhaps that is the problem. We have reached a point where seeing a dinosaur on screen is no longer the cinematic event it once was. The effects can be impressive, but I rarely found myself experiencing that genuine sense of wonder that made Jurassic Park such a memorable film. The End of Oak Street is entertaining enough, but it lacks the wow factor needed to leave a lasting impression.
The End of Oak Street is a decent science fiction survival film with a strong central idea, good performances and impressive visual effects. Its brisk running time works in its favour, although the lack of humour and occasional frustrating character decisions hold it back.
I enjoyed it, but I cannot say it will stay with me for long. It does enough to justify a watch, yet never quite makes the most of its potential. We might have a little dinosaur fatigue, and this film does not do quite enough to cure it.
I score The End of Oak Street a safe 7 out of 10
Out Now on Digital
Apple TV - https://apple.co/4iHwEVy
Prime Video - https://link.amazon/A07DPSM9W
And out on 4K, Bluray and DVD
Amazon - https://link.amazon/A030YPUUO
