A family of four is suddenly sealed inside their house with no way out. How long can they survive and what is outside that’s threatening them? This simple plot becomes more interesting as we watch them adapt. Louis Leterrier is an accomplished director, but most of his work is action based (“Lupin,” “Fast X,” “Now You See Me”), so going for a sci-fi thriller is somewhat new territory for him (pun intended). As the parents, Greta Lee and Wagner Moura do fine, as do the children, so we get an effective survival drama. The attempts at scares aren’t especially effective and the lack of character development or explanation of the mysterious force makes the audience as frustrated as the residents. It’s an interesting concept that’s mildly absorbing. NOTE: To promote the film, the producers put an actor in a “house” billboard on Sunset Boulevard. Here’s a link to the Hollywood Reporter story. 2.5 out of 5.0 stars
