DVD Corner

The End Of Oak Street 4K UHD Review

“The End Of Oak Street” is a largely satisfying sci-fi thriller.

Written and directed by David Robert Mitchell, “The End Of Oak Street” is a sci-fi film in the vein of “The Twilight Zone,” “Jurassic Park,” “Stranger Things,” and an Amblin production. Set in 1982, the story centers around the Platt family living in a normal suburban neighborhood on Oak Street in Flowervale, Michigan (the original title of the film was “Flowervale Street”). The family is not a happy one, however, as there’s a growing discontent between parents Denise and Greg who are both harboring secrets. Denise wants to be a novelist while Greg is delivering pizzas and is afraid to tell his wife that he was fired from his day job. Denise ponders a divorce, but everything changes literally overnight when a bright white light occurs. The Platt family soon discovers that somehow the entire neighborhood has been transported to prehistoric times where dinosaurs and other creatures lurk. Now, Greg, Denise and their two children Audrey and Brian must fight for their lives to stay alive against deadly threats at virtually every turn. Will they be able to return to their own time or are they doomed to be stuck in the past?

Having previously helmed originals “It Follows” and my personal favorite of his filmography “Under The Silver Lake,” David Robert Mitchell crafts his own original big budget sci-fi dinosaur film. It might seem like an odd choice on the surface, but it feels like he’s paying homage to films that inspired him in the past.

While the box office numbers were sadly underwhelming, “The End Of Oak Street” is certainly better than any “Jurassic Park” sequel and will hopefully find new life on streaming. Not only is it an intense thrill ride of a movie filled with heart racing dinosaur encounters and one truly shocking moment, but it’s a heartfelt story of a broken family being brought closer together through this nightmarish journey. The happy ending might feel a bit rushed (and perhaps a bit of a cheat), but it also feels earned at the same time. Compared to his past work, it might not be as revelatory in terms of its story, but it’s nice to see an up and coming filmmaker like David Robert Mitchell get a proper budget to continue creating original films.

Cast wise, this is the Platt family’s movie through and through with Anne Hathaway (Denise), Ewan McGregor (Greg), Maisy Stella (Audrey) and Christian Convery (Brian) all turning in credible performances. Not only were they believable as a family unit, but you really buy into their terror. Jordan Alexa Davis also shines here as Jeanette (a neighborhood girl survivor).

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 2.39:1 2160p. How does it look? The stylized film looks crystal clear on 4K.

Audio Track: Dolby Atmos. How does it sound? The Atmos track is every bit as dynamic as you would hope it would be. The dino action really puts the speakers to work.

Extras:
* “Banding Together: The Making Of The End Of Oak Street”- A standard 19 minute making of with set footage, cast and crew interviews, film clips, and discussions about everything from the characters to the story.
* “Every Creature Tells A Story: The Dinosaurs Of Oak Street”- An 11 ½ minute featurette on the dinosaurs created by ILM.
* “The Spinosaurus Attack: Driving Fear On Oak Street”- A nearly 7 minute featurette on the set piece.

November 2, 2026 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Anne Hathaway, Dinosaur Movie, Ewan McGregor, Sci-fi, The End Of Oak Street 4K UHD Review