Movie Review: Rosewood Lane (2011)

The movie stars Rose McGowan, Daniel Ross Owens, Sonny Marinelli, Ray Wise and Bill Fagerbakke.

I didn't intend on watching this movie when I came across it on one of our movie channels last night, mostly because I had seen it before. In fact, the only reason I didn't turn it off immediately was I was looking for something else to watch. However, I couldn't find another movie so I ended up watching this film anyway. And, after seeing it again, I'm glad I did.

My wife and I like psychological thrillers. But, to be honest, there are way too many out there that just aren't all that scary. This movie, however, is one that is definitely worth taking the time to watch and is on my list of favorites.

There are a couple things I really like about this movie in general. The main one is the paperboy, Derek (Owens). He reminded me a lot of Jim Carrey's character in "The Cable Guy." There was obviously something not quite right with him. But, at the same time, he also managed to be charming when the situation called for it. That's not something most movies are able to pull off and the writers (and Owens) need to be applauded for that.

Another thing I liked about this movie was the way it managed to be a mystery. Again, it's obvious from the start there is something sinister about Derek. But, on more than one occasion, Sonny (McGowan) would be stalked or attacked while Derek had an alibi. Granted, most of the time, the alibi was his parents. But, it did create quite a bit of doubt about whether or not he was really the bad guy or if he was just a clever red herring.

The twist at the very end of this movie is one that is intriguing because, in hindsight, it explained so much. But, at the same time, while it was something that should have been obvious, it was an ending I was honestly not expecting the first time I watched this. And, when you've watched as many movies in this genre as I have, it's pretty impressive when a film surprises you.

The movie does honestly lose something if you watch it more than once, mostly because of the surprise twist that explains a lot of the unexplained. But, if you haven't seen this film before, it's worth taking the time to watch it, especially if you are in the mood for a good thriller.

My Grade: A