THE END OF OAK STREET : Tuesday 18th August 2026.

I saw the M Rated 'THE END OF OAK STREET' earlier this week, and this American Sci-Fi survival film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by David Robert Mitchell who made his feature film Directing debut with 'The Myth of the American Sleepover' in 2010 and has since had only two other features, 'It Follows' in 2014 and 'Under the Silver Lake' in 2018. This film was released last week too in the US, cost in the region US$85M to produce and has so far grossed US$64M having garnered generally positive critical reviews along the way. 

The film opens on a scene of a street party on Oak Street in the town of Flowervale, Michigan, on what appears to be a beautiful sun drenched summers day. We are quickly introduced to Denise Platt (Anne Hathaway) and her husband Greg (Ewan McGregor) and their mid-teenage daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella), their younger son Brian (Christian Convery) and their dog Starbuck. The couple's marriage is somewhat strained, and Denise privately contemplates divorce, while Greg, having lost his regular job within the last few weeks secretly works as a local pizza delivery driver just to earn a few bucks until he can get back on his feet. 

Sometime later, Denise who is an aspiring novelist takes a draft of her first novel to local neighbour Mrs. Huddleston (Anne Gee Byrd) for a proof read, and who thinks her novel has merit and should continue writing. Before Denise leaves, Mrs.Huddleston invites her into her backyard to observe a peculiar looking plant that has suddenly sprouted up in the last three days and stands about six feet tall. Denise takes a photograph and at the library, the librarian, Mrs. Valcourt (Emily Kuroda), identifies the plant as a species that went extinct two hundred million years ago. The next morning, a big pile of animal dung subsequently appears in neighbour Mel Jacobs (P.J. Byrne) yard, and he fumes at Denise and Greg saying that it is their kids doing. Greg defuses the matter by offering to help Mel clean up the mess. Radio broadcasts report increased solar-flare activity. During a storm later that night, Greg returns home from a pizza delivery, when a huge white light suddenly engulfs Oak Street, joined by a change in atmospheric pressure, and a power and water outage. The next day still none the wiser as to what, how or why last nights incident occurred, Denise, Greg and their two kids leave their house to search for Starbuck, who has gone missing from his outdoor kennel. 

They soon discover that Oak Street is seemingly surrounded by a prehistoric landscape from which dinosaurs emerge, and kill people throughout the neighbourhood. The family proceeds to board up their windows and Audrey theorises that the flashes of light were wormholes that transported the entire neighbourhood millions of years into the past. 

Holed up in their home, the family gather to discuss their situation. Denise seems to accept their fate that they could potentially be stuck there for the rest of their lives, while Greg believes in the power of divine intervention and that God will help them find a way back to their normal lives. 

That night, Greg reveals he knows Denise is considering divorce, and confronts her about her draft manuscript which he says he has read and is about their life and struggles together, while also coming clean about losing his job. Meanwhile, Brian sees Starbuck outside his bedroom window and ventures outside to get him, with Audrey following. They witness Mel being killed by pterosaurs on the roof of his house. They encounter Jeannette Christiansen (Jordan Alexa Davis), Brian's neighbourhood crush, who joins them after revealing her parents have been killed. Elsewhere, Denise and Greg, while trying to find the children, see a flash of light and follow it to a house containing a wormhole. They refuse to leave without their children, and the wormhole disappears. A herd of dinosaurs pursue them, but they take shelter in a car, reconcile, reunite with the children, and offer to look after Jeannette.

The following morning, an Allosaurus attacks the group homing in on Denise. Greg comes to her rescue but is subsequently killed protecting the others, who are able to flee, obviously distraught and heartbroken over the sudden death of their husband and father. They observe the wormhole again in the distance above Mrs. Valcourt's house and make their way onto the roof. They observe that the wormhole appears and disappears at regular intervals. Jeannette jumps in and disappears, but when Brian attempts to follow, he misses the opening and falls to the ground injuring his leg in the process. A Tropeognathus grabs at his leg, but Starbuck appears and attacks the creature. The group attempt to take shelter inside Mrs. Valcourt's house, but it is infested with erythrosuchids, one of which Mrs. Valcourt manages to shoot dead with a shotgun before being overwhelmed and killed by the others. Escaping back to the roof, the group then to jump into the wormhole together.

Jumping through the wormhole together, the three come crashing down into a swimming pool in the pouring rain. The irate owner comes out screaming for the three to get the hell outta there, while Denise shouts 'what year is it?' 'What sort of a question is that? the home owner yells back, 'it's 1982!' Having returned about twenty minutes before Oak Street is transported mysteriously away, Denise calls from a local phone box, a handful of Oak Street residents to leave the neighbourhood prior to the white light appearing, while Jeannette runs to warn her parents. Denise also contacts Greg to make his next pizza delivery to a distant bus stop, where they will be waiting. When Greg arrives, he is embraced by Denise and his kids. The white light appears again, engulfing the suburb as Oak Street disappears and is replaced by the prehistoric landscape. Two years later, the military and authorities have contained the area while scientists study both the prehistoric environment and its wildlife in attempts to determine how and why the wormholes appeared. Denise has become a hero for warning residents and has published a book titled 'The End of Oak Street', based on her experiences, which has made the family moderately well off financially. The film ends with the Platts and the Christiansens enjoying a barbecue together, with a pair of matching Jeannettes.

'The End of Oak Street' as a creature feature harkens back to the halcyon days of Spielberg's 'Jurassic' offerings, in as much as the marauding dino effects are well realised, the action sequences will maintain your interest, and the Platt's family dynamics are relatable. That said, I felt that the background CGI was questionable, some of the dialogue clunky, and the behaviour of the characters is at times ambiguous. For a throwback film of the ilk that trademarked the 1980's and early '90's, this disposable popcorn movie is sure to please despite the plot holes, and at a brisk running time of 99 minutes it doesn't outstay its welcome. 

'The End of Oak Street' merits three claps of the Odeon Online clapperboard from a possible five claps.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-

What's new at Odeon's this week : Thursday 13th August 2026.

The 79th edition of this years Edinburgh International Film Festival (EIFF) runs from Thursday 13th through until Wednesday 19th August in the capital city of Scotland, Edinburgh, UK. The Edinburgh International Film Festival is the world’s oldest continually running film festival and, in 2024, relaunched as a brand new entity with a new board of industry leaders. Honouring 70+ years of festival history, EIFF showcases the very best filmmaking talent in a re-energised format that is rooted in a local Scottish context whilst embracing the international diversity of creative expression. EIFF’s August fixture runs in parallel to a host of creative festivals taking place in Edinburgh, including The Fringe, Edinburgh International Festival, Edinburgh International Book Festival, Edinburgh International Art Festival, Edinburgh International TV Festival, and many more, which sell millions of tickets to cultural connoisseurs from around the world. A global player celebrating the very best that cinema has to offer in a modern, energised context, the core strategy of the revitalised Festival is to embed within the wider cultural offering taking place in Edinburgh in August, embracing the sense of discovery, experimentation and cross-arts collaboration . . . so reads the official website.

This years Opening Night feature film is 'The Incomer' from the UK and Directed by Louis Paxton. Raised on a remote Scottish island, oddball siblings Isla (Gayle Rankin) and Sandy (Grant O’Rourke) spend their days hunting, squabbling and telling stories. But when nervy council official Daniel (Domhnall Gleeson) arrives on the island intent on moving them along, the pair must wrestle with the threat and exciting possibilities of the mainland. Also starring John Hannah, Michelle Gomez and Emun Elliott. International Premiere.

The Closing Night film is 'Bel' from the UK and is Directed by Louise Lockwood. This documentary portrait of Beldina Odenyo, the Kenyan-Scottish musician, singer and songwriter, who performed under the stage name, 'Heir of the Cursed' and worked across Scotland’s theatre and poetry communities. After her acclaimed performance at the Scottish Album of the Year Awards in 2021, Bel took her own life, leaving behind raw, intimate video diaries and a hard drive full of original songs of great beauty. World Premiere.

EIFF is poised to accelerate the discovery of new talent through its two centrepiece competitions - The Sean Connery Prize for Feature Filmmaking Excellence, which carries a cash prize of UK£50K, and The Thelma Schoonmaker Prize for Short Filmmaking Excellence, which carries a cash prize of UK£15K, both decided by audience vote.

There are ten films all competing for the Sean Connery Prize, as given in brief below :-

* 'Out There' - from the UK and this comedy drama Sci-Fi film is Written and Directed by Simon Ryninks. A 16 year-old Welsh girl in a small seaside town in Wales in 1999 becomes convinced her father was abducted by aliens. Alongside her sceptical best friend she enlists a local UFO expert to solve the mystery. Starring Nerys Amber Stocks, Michael Sheen, Aneurin Barnard, and Tom Moya. World Premiere.

* 'The State of Us' - from the UK, this comedy drama film is Written by Jake Harvey and Directed by Ollie Gardner and Jake Harvey. Frankie breaks his best friend Taylor out of a hospice for one final night out. When their riotous journey through Bradford spirals into chaos, both boys must face the one goodbye they're not ready for. Starring Samuel Bottomley, Callum Scott Howells and Frances Barber. World Premiere.

* 'Pretty Babies' - from the USA, this drama film is Written and Directed by Tyler-Marie Evans. Two teenage girls run away to Hollywood to chase their dreams of becoming famous actresses. Their pursuit leads them into prostitution, trapping them in the dark underbelly of the sex work industry as they journey from Texas to California. Starring Ashley Benson, Emily Alyn Lind, Madelaine Petsch, Sadie Stanley. World Premiere.

* 'Capsized' - from the USA, this comedy drama film is Written and Directed by Lindsey Ryan. Nicole's (Sarah Catherine Hook) discovery of an eviction notice shatters her family's houseboat vacation, forcing them to confront their patriarch's troubles, lost homes, and fractured identities through a turbulent journey of self-discovery and redemption. Also starring Rhys Ifans and Lily Rabe. World Premiere.

* 'Snapshot' - from the UK, this horror thriller film is Directed by Joseph Archer. Set in 1888 Whitechapel, London, it follows an all-ladies ghost-hunting society investigating murders they believe are committed by a monster rather than Jack the Ripper. Starring Cathy Wippell, Hazel Rogers, Lydia Helen, Nadia Lamin, Rosie-Bella Johnson and Tom Stourton. World Premiere.

* 'Mission' - from the UK, this drama thriller is Written and Directed by Paul Wright. Alienated Dylan (George MacKay) throws off the shackles of his solitary life in an attempt to experience the highs and lows of existence chasing life before death. Also starring Rosy McEwen. World Premiere.

* 'The Mad World of Harvey Kurtzman' - from Canada and the UK, this documentary film is Directed by Bart Simpson. A vivid, immersive and visually striking portrait of the founder of the satirical publication Mad magazine and its far-reaching influence on some of the most prominent artists of our time. Kurtzman’s commitment to integrity and challenging the status quo with humour, edge and resilience is a hymn for our times. With contributions from Terry Gilliam, Stan Lee and Robert Crumb among others. World Premiere.

* 'Sacred Creatures' - from Canada and Italy, this comedy drama film is Co-Written and Directed by Frieda Luk. An unstable young woman who believes she's experienced a spiritual awakening reunites with her two estranged siblings in rural Italy, where she attracts a group of eccentric followers and turns her family's life upside down. Starring Olivia Luccardi, Antonio De Matteo and James Cusati-Moyer. World Premiere.

* 'First Zone' - from the Netherlands, this Sci-Fi film is Directed by Thom Lunshof. Living out existence in an abandoned wind turbine high above an endless ocean, ultra tough Fenna (Hadewych Minis) has become used to surviving alone in the aftermath of a climate catastrophe. But when a violent storm separates her from home, she embarks on an odyssey across the vast wetlands of a post-apocalyptic landscape. World Premiere.

* 'Skintown' - from Ireland and the UK, this comedy drama film is Directed by Kieron J. Walsh. Set in 1994, it follows two best friends from Enniskillen who plot an escape during the IRA ceasefire, immersing themselves in local rave culture, drugs, and gangland antics. Starring Chris Walley and Jack Rowan. World Premiere.

For the details of the other film strands being showcased, and a whole bunch of other good stuff, you can visit the official website at : http://www.edfilmfest.org

Turning the focus back on this weeks four new movies coming to a big screen Odeon near you, we launch with a Sci-Fi survival film in which a family and their entire neighbourhood are inexplicably transported to a land inhabited by prehistoric creatures, and to survive they must learn to face their potentially deadly foe together. This is followed by a RomCom in which two New Yorkers search for love on the one night of the year when sex is legal between unmarried people. Then we have a French drama film which follows the investigation of a Police shooting during a riot in Paris, and based on true events. And closing out the week we turn to an animated Chinese and American produced film centring on one Tom Cat and Jerry Mouse as they navigate another world having been transported there by a magical compass they came across during a chase at a museum. 

Whatever your taste in big screen film entertainment is this week - be it any of the four latest release new films as Previewed below, or those doing the rounds currently on general release or as Reviewed and Previewed in previous Blog Posts here at Odeon Online, you are most welcome to share your movie going thoughts, opinions and observations by leaving your relevant, succinct and appropriate views in the Comments section below this or any other Post. We'd love to hear from you, and in the meantime, enjoy your big screen Odeon outing during the week ahead.

'THE END OF OAK STREET' (Rated M) - this American Sci-Fi survival film is Written, Co-Produced and Directed by David Robert Mitchell who made his feature film Directing debut with 'The Myth of the American Sleepover' in 2010 and has since had only two other features, 'It Follows' in 2014 and 'Under the Silver Lake' in 2018. This film is released this week too in the US and cost US$85M to produce. 

After a mysterious cosmic event rips Oak Street from suburbia and transports the entire neighbourhood to someplace unknown but populated with prehistoric creatures the Platt family - Mum Denise (Anne Hathaway), Dad Greg (Ewan McGregor), daughter Audrey (Maisy Stella) and son Brian (Christian Convery) soon discover that their very survival depends on sticking together as they navigate their now unrecognisable surroundings.

'ONE NIGHT ONLY' (Rated M) - is an American romantic comedy film that is Co-Produced and Directed by Will Gluck who made his debut feature film with 'Fired Up!' in 2009, and which he would follow up with the likes of 'Easy A' in 2010, 'Friends with Benefits' in 2011, 'Annie' in 2014, 'Peter Rabbit' in 2018, 'Peter Rabbit 2 : The Runaway' in 2021, and 'Anyone But You' in 2023. Two love-starved strangers - Allie (Monica Barbaro) and Owen (Callum Turner) who crash into each other in an ever-so-slightly fictionalised New York City on the one night of the year when single people are allowed to have sex. Recently dumped Owen and hopeful romantic Allie might be the only two singles in the city looking for more than just a quick encounter. They both feel a spark when they meet, but a series of missteps and side quests complicate their night, keeping them apart. As they each race toward and away from each other across the city, they just might discover that the one thing they want most is closer than they think. Also starring Maya Hawke, Julia Fox and Molly Ringwald, the film was released Stateside last week, has generated mixed critical reviews and has so far grossed US$6.1M from a production budget of US$25M. 

'CASE 137' (Rated M) - this French crime drama film in Co-Written and Directed by Dominik Moll whose prior feature film Directing credits include 'Harry, He's Here to Help' in 2000, 'Lemming' in 2005, 'The Monk' in 2011, and 'The Night of the 12th' in 2022. Based on true events, here, Stephanie Bertrand (Lea Drucker), a Police Officer working for Internal Affairs, is assigned to a case involving a young man severely wounded during a tense and chaotic demonstration in Paris. While she finds no evidence of illegitimate Police violence, the case takes a personal turn when she discovers the victim is from her hometown. The film had its World Premiere in the main competition at last years Cannes Film Festival on 15th May 2025, where it was nominated for the Palme d'Or, was released in its native France in mid-November and has generated largely positive critical reviews.

'TOMMY & JERRY : FORBIDDEN COMPASS' (Rated PG) - is a Chinese-American Co-Produced computer-animated science fantasy comedy film directed by Zhang Gang, based on the Tom and Jerry theatrical cartoon series created by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. It is the eighteenth instalment in the 'Tom & Jerry' film series and this story unfolds during a chase in a museum, where Tom and Jerry accidentally activate a magical compass that transports them to another world. On their journey home, they meet a group of new companions and become embroiled in a conflict against mysterious forces. The English dubbed version has the voice talents of Eric Bauza as Tom Cat and Ben Diskin as Jerry Mouse. The film was released in China in early August last year and is out in the US in early September this year.

With four new release movie offerings this week to tempt you out to your local Odeon, remember to share your movie going thoughts with your other like minded cinephile friends afterwards here at Odeon Online. In the meantime, I'll see you sometime somewhere at your local Odeon in the coming week.

-Steve, at Odeon Online-