Review of The Boy Next Door (2015) by Quincytheodore — 06 Feb 2015

Let's face it, you must here to see Jennifer Lopez running from some psycho in her night gown or equally revealing outfit because the poster indicated such prospect. If that's the case, there isn't much aside from flirtation and edited illusion of what may come mainly on the first act, and if you're here for scare or horror, bless you. The Boy Next Door is virtually the same type of movie since Mark Whalberg's Fear almost two decades ago, only worse and without any depth or innovation.

Jennifer Lopez's cinematic career is far less successful than her monumental achievement in music, and unless she starts singing exclusive songs as she runs in the movie, which she obviously doesn't, it's a bit optimistic to hope she could carry a horror movie by her own. She was decent at Parker, but her overall track record isn't consistent. Here without any veteran actors or quality script, it's hard to expect excellent performance, let alone on horror genre, which she's not familiar with.

The movie is incredibly predictable down to a fault. Entirely predictable without any build on suspense, the titular boy next door seems nice at first, but turns out to be a real maniac. He hunts her, she's scared. It's very bland and uninspiring, not to mention many other movies of similar theme has done better in setting the thrill. At time it's even unintentionally funny with excessive wailing and less than optimal cinematography.

Production is very basic, Jennifer Lopez in a simple suburb neighborhood with a few other supporting cast. Don't expect too much stylish cinematography or atmospheric ambiance, much of its gore or dramatic sequences are done modestly. It does attempt to bring more subplots with personal aspects with the family and some scenes are rather unsettling because the inappropriate nature, but these never materialize into more than unimaginative humdrum jump scares.

With Jennifer Lopez starring and also producing the movie, it might create a buzz at least more than your usual horror B-movies could hope for, but many people will be surely disappointed. A footage of her as herself fighting real stalker with "based on true story" slapped on the cover would've been much better.