The House on Laura Anne Dr. (2024) – Film Review

The House on Laura Anne Dr. is an indie horror film set in Florida. With opening shots of sunny beaches and people enjoying the sun, it doesn’t begin like a traditional horror flick, but that’s okay. Unfortunately, any thrills and chills through the film are pretty low-key. That doesn’t work in its favor. This film about a haunted house on Laura Anne Drive fails to make the grade as scary, but redeems itself at the end by providing a few shocks some viewers may not see coming.

On-screen statements at the begging and end of The House on Laura Anne Dr., state the film is based on a true story. However, the final credits terminate by stating: “The characters and events depicted in this motion picture are fictitious. Any similarity to persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.” This suggests, the claims made for the film may be nothing more than a marketing strategy intended to help prop up a horror film that’s woefully lacking in scares.

The House on Laura Anne Dr. has a limited cast consisting of just three key characters, with most of the story revolving around Ava (Natalie Brienen) and Jay (Stephen Lamar Lewis), who have just moved into a new home.

The film begins by introducing Ava and Jay, who are traveling by car. Ava is wearing a blindfold because Jay has bought the house as a surprise—and Ava is surprised. She’s also initially very happy with the house, along with the idea of a fresh start in Florida. However, a combination of strange events, result in a change of opinion, and it isn’t long before Ava is telling Jay she wants to move.

Initially Ava—who is left home alone all day while Jay is at work—begins seeing things out of the corner of her eye. Then, while trying to find the source of an unpleasant smell in the garage, she discovers indications someone has been squatting in the roof space. The officer who comes to investigate assures Ava, the squatter appears to have gone, pointing out this type of thing often happens in uninhabited buildings, but this fails to totally alleviate Ava’s concerns.

Mysterious messages written to her on post-it notes, stuck to the bathroom mirror, only serve to increase Ava’s alarm; and Jay, who has previously tried to be a supportive husband, begins to lose patience and starts making hurtful comments and voicing his doubts about Ava’s state of mind.

Although she spends most of her time alone, Ava gets occasional visits from a lady named Ruth (Jann van Dyke), who tells her she lives across the street. Ruth appears to know a lot about the house’s history, and some of the things she tells Ava do little to calm her fears.

Brienen and Lewis both do a good job of making their characters believable, and the basic premise of the story is sound. Any problems the film has lie elsewhere. The main thing it lacks is a feeling of menace. A few shadowy figures here and there isn’t enough, and, when a coat hanger of ties is moved from the bed to the floor behind Ava’s back, it’s an “oh!” moment at best.

Films about haunted houses used to be always set in old houses. Many of them still are. When they are set in modern abodes, it can work well, by bringing the action into an environment that’s easier for viewers to identify with. However, they still need to generate a feeling of unease or, better still, terror. The House on Laura Anne Dr. fails to do this. It lacks the creepy atmosphere and tension that need to be at the heart of a good haunted house film, and, in a few of the scenes, it’s obvious the footage was shot on a movie set. In one scene, Ava steps into a closet and then steps out; Instead of, cutting between the bedroom and the closet, the camera follows her in and out, actually showing the end of the dividing wall. It’s hard to miss, robbing the scene of any credibility it may have had, and, potentially, pulling viewer attention away from the film.

There’s a lot wrong with The House on Laura Anne Dr., and unless they are particularly enamored with one the stars, it seems unlikely too many viewers will want to watch it more than once. It’s not by any means unbearable to watch, but, if you are truly seeking chills, my advice is to take a virtual trip back in time and watch Poltergeist (1982) instead. Both films have a similar plot point, but Poltergeist is easily the superior option.

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