The Boy Next Door (2015)
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A high school teacher's life spirals into danger after a one-night stand with a neighbor who develops a deranged obsession with her.
The story
Claire Peterson is a high school English Literature teacher living alone with her teenage son, Kevin, following her husband's infidelity. Her life changes when 19-year-old Noah Sandborn, an orphan, moves in next door to help his uncle. Noah quickly charms Claire and befriends Kevin, even attending the school where Claire teaches. After Claire reluctantly goes on a double date, Noah invites her over for dinner. During the evening, he flirts with her, leading to a passionate one-night stand. The following morning, Claire regrets the encounter, but Noah's behavior becomes increasingly intrusive as he begins to manipulate Kevin and hack into Claire's computer.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Claire Peterson, a high school teacher, lives with her son Kevin after her husband Garrett's infidelity. Noah Sandborn, a 19-year-old orphan, moves next door and begins befriending Kevin while charming Claire. After a one-night stand between Claire and Noah, Noah becomes obsessed. He hacks Claire's computer, manipulates Kevin, and even saves Kevin's life during a medical emergency to gain favor. Noah's obsession escalates after he sees Garrett with Claire. He eventually assaults a school bully and is expelled. At a school dance, Noah attempts to rape Claire, but she escapes. Noah then begins blackmailing Claire with a video of their encounter. Claire discovers Noah has been tampering with the brakes of her family's cars and finds nude photos of herself in his home. Noah eventually holds Vicky, Claire's friend, hostage and kills her. He then lures Claire to his house, where he has Garrett and Kevin tied up in a barn, intending to kill them. He starts a fire, and during the struggle, Claire stabs Noah in the eye with an EpiPen. Finally, Claire pulls a lever that drops an engine on Noah, killing him, while she and Kevin help a wounded Garrett escape the burning barn.
- First release year
- 2015
- Runtime (minutes)
- 91
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Rob Cohen
- Writers
- Barbara Curry · writer; Barbara Curry · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Jennifer Lopez · Claire Peterson; Ryan Guzman · Noah Sandborn; Ian Nelson · Kevin Peterson; John Corbett · Garrett Peterson; Kristin Chenoweth · Vicky Lansing; Lexi Atkins · Allie Callahan; Hill Harper · Principal Edward Warren; Jack Wallace · Mr. Sandborn
- Genres
- erotic psychological thriller; horror thriller; psychological horror; romantic thriller; horror drama; romantic horror; erotic romance
- Themes
- obsession; infidelity; stalking; motherhood; manipulation
- Tone and mood
- erotic; tense; dark; unsettling
- Premise and plot tags
- stalker thriller; erotic thriller; psychological thriller; teacher-student relationship; domestic thriller
- Source material / true-story basis
- Inspired by Barbara Curry's life experiences and the real-life story of Mary Kay Letourneau
- Content notes
- violence; sexual content; nudity; language
- Reception
- The film received generally negative reviews from critics but was a box office success, grossing $52.4 million against a $4 million budget.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 12% · scale: 100% · review count: 136; Metacritic · score: 30 · scale: 100 · review count: 33
- Awards and nominations
- MTV Movie Award · Best Scared-As-Shit Performance · 2015 · win; MTV Movie Award · Best Scared-As-Shit Performance · 2015 · nomination; Premios Juventud · actress · 2015 · win; Premios Juventud · producer · 2015 · win; People's Choice Award · Favorite Dramatic Movie Actress · 2015 · nomination; People's Choice Award · Favorite Thriller Movie · 2015 · nomination; Golden Raspberry Award · Worst Actress · 2015 · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film was shot on a micro-budget of $4 million, with the production sharing one trailer and having no craft service.; The term 'The Iliad, first edition' became the top search term on AbeBooks following the film's release due to a scene involving a book.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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