The End of Oak Street is not what you’d expect just from looking at the name. You would think it’s maybe a psychological thriller about how a neighbourhood is slowly terrorised by a serial killer, or maybe a drama about a redevelopment project that cannot be stopped. You would be dead wrong if you thought any of that.

If Stephen King’s Under the Dome were to meet La Brea (a sci-fi TV series where a sinkhole opens up and transports anyone who falls inside back to the age of the dinosaurs), then you would get The End of Oak Street. I also have a suspicion that part of the premise of the film was influenced by the Tenth Doctor’s famous quote describing time as “a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff”.



The film opens on a wide view of a 1980s suburbia, and closes in on one neighbourhood having a block party. Here we meet Denise and her family – husband Greg, son Brian, daughter Audrey, and their dog Starbuck. Everything seems picture perfect, but they have their issues, as all families do. Everything changes one night when a bright flash of light transports them back in time to the age of the dinosaurs, and now they must survive and figure out if there’s a way to get back to their time.

I also have a suspicion that part of the premise of the film was influenced by the Tenth Doctor’s famous quote describing time as “a big ball of wibbly wobbly, timey wimey stuff”.

I’m sure you grew up on Jurassic Park, and were likely traumatised by the very realistic animatronic T-rex in the first film. Similarly, there is some trauma to be created or revisited by the CGI in this movie, with some very realistic dinosaurs running around (kudos to the art department and CGI team for the good work). It's rare to find modern dinosaur movies not named "Jurassic" with polished CGI, and even rarer to find a sci-fi thriller actually have the guts to throw punches with Steven Spielberg's iconic dino adventures, even if The End of Oak Street aims for a much more intense, almost horror-esque vibe than the Jurassic saga - largely thanks to director David Robert Mitchell's expertise in the horror genre having directed 2014's It Follows.



If you ever find yourself in a situation where you encounter a T-rex, you cannot outrun it. Don’t even bother trying. You will lose that race. Just say your prayers and hope your death is quick. The End of Oak Street makes its collection of dinosaurs truly menacing in between a few awe-inspiring scenes, but the sense of danger is ever-present and always clawing at the characters.

What I did enjoy about the dinosaurs is that they had a combination of fur and feathers and scales, not just the scales. It was a refreshing change from the standard scaly reptiles we see in most dinosaur media. The film also introduced the ancestors of the crocodile, and the anaconda as well (there is one scene with a snake that will basically have you freaking out). Guys, when I say my heart was pounding even after taking an anti-anxiety pill before the movie… that’s how well the film built the tension.



The pacing for the story was good and flowed well. There weren’t any moments that made you go “wait, what just happened?” or question how certain situations ended up happening. Every scene serves a purpose and it carefully melds into the next with some great suspense built up throughout. The music from famed composer Michael Giacchino was well-composed and added to the tension created by both the story and camera angles, building the atmosphere and claustrophobia when called for it. There was a decent amount of gore, but it wasn’t too in your face, and wasn’t there to add shock value either.

What I did enjoy about the dinosaurs is that they had a combination of fur and feathers and scales, not just the scales.

Anne Hathaway put on a stellar performance as Denise, a tired housewife who wants something more than just her regular life. Her character growth throughout the film was inevitable, and felt realistic. Other performances, including Ewan McGregor, were good too but for the most part, Hathaway steals the show and she's probably the most memorable character apart from the actual dinosaurs.



I would categorise The End of Oak Street as somewhere between an action-thriller and a horror, as it had elements of both in it without being firmly in one genre. Again, Mitchell's past as a horror director adds to the movie's tension, and it challenges viewers to view dinosaurs as more than just these wondrous, magnificent prehistoric beasts - they're hungry, dangerous, and very scary by all accounts. The action came from the characters fighting back, the thriller aspect came from the tense music and well-thought-out camera angles, and the horror aspect came from some of the terrifying dinosaurs the characters were up against.



I was surprised to find I actually enjoyed The End of Oak Street more than I thought I would, considering my general avoidance of anything remotely thriller or horror coded. Anne Hathaway's performance was great, but the pin-point direction, tension, and music added to its unique premise. If you're up for a non-Jurassic Park/World movie with a good budget, solid CGI, and more feathery giant lizards, look no further.

I was invited to an exclusive preview screening of The End of Oak Street at Movies@MonteCasino by YFM and WarnerBros SA.

Written by Samantha Crerar