The House Across the Street (2022) User Reviews

A bit confused, but a well acted, watchable series.

[Sleepin_Dragon · 6/10 · 10 December 2022]

Divorced single mum Claudia is desperate to get close to a couple who live across the road from her, a couple who's daughter has vanished.

The latest drama from Channel five, and it's a pretty good production. I'll applaud it for being four parts long, I am struggling with some of the series that are right parts or longer.

It's not the cleanest storyline you'll ever see, it is mixed up, it's a little jumbled, but it's well paced, it's intriguing, it's certainly well acted.

I was reminded a little bit of Deadwater Fell, it's better than some of the recent dramas that have been on, I'd put a lot of it down to Shirley Henderson, her acting was tremendous, I am a huge fan of hers. Claudia is definitely a strange character.

You are made to wait until the very end to learn what happened, and the fourth episode is arguably the most rewarding.

It's a mixed bag, but overall it's enjoyable, 6/10.

Solid domestic thriller in the Harlan Coben style

[JRB-NorthernSoul · 6/10 · 18 October 2022]

Who doesn't like a nosy neighbour tale, they've been a mainstay of film and TV for a century. This new one from C5 won't disappoint fans of the genre who don't mind a bit of Harlan Coben on a winter's evening - its got more twists and turns than an alpine walking trail.

I liked it, it was well made and constructed, atmospheric, sometimes creepy and kept me guessing all the way. Shirley Henderson as protagonist Claudia has made a career playing fragile and ambiguous characters and was perfectly cast here.

Better than most C5 dramas. Minor quibbles, the score was a bit paint by numbers and some of the dialogue a bit expositional. But overall it's a sliced white loaf of melodrama with no pretensions of being an artisan rye, it does what it says on the tin. If that's what you're after sit back and enjoy the ride.

How does this woman get work?

[amyrach-32718 · 4/10 · 28 February 2024]

This might have been a good show if the acting wasn't so bad. And the dialogue wasn't so bad. And the writing... and the music.... and.... pretty much everything... wasn't SO SO BAD!! This Shirley Henderson is an awful actress. She literally almost made me turn off Happy Valley in season 2 and I loved that show! Imagine watching her character for 4 hours straight and that's what you're getting when you watch this. She plays the EXACT same character in this production. A strange, creepy, obsessive lady who talks only in whisper and works at the grade school. While I've never seen her in anything else I can't imagine she can do much more or gets any better with any script. I looked her up on here IMDB and saw that she's in 118 movies and TV series and was totally shocked by that. Who is hiring this woman over 100 times with her atrocious acting 'skills'!? She's terrible, and terribly annoying!

Anyways, this isn't a great show. There's zero character development. They never dive into the background of the neighbor to explain why she acts the way they does. Why is she so obsessed with her neighbors? Why does she cover up the murder and take the blame for it? I see a lot of people bothered that the mom is back at work in just a few days after the death of her daughter, but I don't really find it to be that out of the ordinary. I work at a massive company that employs almost 200k people and we have really good benefits and even we only get 3 days of bereavement. These days people can't afford to just not go to work (at least in America). Besides, a lot of grieving people go back to work to take their mind off of what's going on in their personal lives. What I find the most odd is that this is a show centered around the kidnapping and murder of a child but there's not a single cop around. There's no investigation!

I watched the entire series to see where it was going to go, but I knew as soon as the brother was introduced it was going to be him that killed his sister. And it was going to be the neighbor that found out. It was just really predictable. But more than anything it's the acting in this that makes it a subpar tv series. And unfortunately the main is the worst of the worst!

Disappointed - very uncomfortable and creepy acting by the lead character

[bevowen · 1/10 · 24 October 2022]

I watched this series hoping it would be great and was very disappointed as I felt really uncomfortable watching the lead actor in her role. Most of the time Shirley Henderson was in my view, just a weird and really creepy unbelievable character with her bizarre mannerisms and behaviour. The series was all too much for me and deeply disturbing. It also pained me to listen to her child like voice and watch her do random things like stroke a piece of victims hair over her face and smell her own clothes because of someone she sat next to...huh? Why? Nothing was explained as to why she did this? Really odd.... She was a school nurse and even that didn't make sense as she just seemed disoriented all the time.

The actor portrays a fragile, meek person who sets out to solve a child murder. Fundamentally there was an error in this as she asks questions you wouldn't in normal life get answers to unless you were an official like the Police e.g. Going to a school and asking sensitive and personal questions about a former teacher, when anyone knows data protection would restrict this.... Doh!

This series could have been so much better - it was just uneasy and unenjoyable watching for me....4 hours of my life I won't get back.... I would not recommend this series to anyone.

Annoying character both her actions and voice

[rosemaryandthyme · 3/10 · 25 November 2022]

I agree as others here regarding the main actress Shirley Henderson's whispering low pitch voice. It's too much to endure for an entire episode and spoilt the series for me. She's OK in small doses, for instance she was good in Happy Valley series 2 as a supporting actor, but I don't think she's strong enough as an actress (as well as that annoying whispering voice) to carry a series as the main character. I didn't understand her motives in this and in particular the scene at the travel agency when she said something so intensely cruel to the grieving mother...why??....was she being deliberately malicious or just incredibly stupid? Her character was unlikeable, creepy, weird and bordered on psychotic - she would have made a good villain. As for her obsession with the the dad - rescuing him from ditch and then slugging a drink from his bottle - did she have a crush on him or what? She had issues with personal space, shoving her face in others and pawing over them, I cheered when her son remarked on her bad breath. I think this could have been a good series with a different, stronger and less annoying lead...such a waste, I love British series. I quite liked the music but all in all wasted on a limp lead. Bad casting.

Can someone explain the ending to me?

[cathyannemoore-66196 · 1/10 · 26 October 2022]

One of those dramas one watches to see if it gets any better.

I stuck with it up until the end mainly for that reason. I have not got a clue what was behind the main character's obsession or why she did what she did at the end.

Let alone why she put those underpants on (I don't think that's too much of a spoiler)

With the actors in that cast I feel with a better script, one that actually tells the story, this drama series would have been received much better. This production is a waste of acting talent, a waste of money in it's making and a waste of my time watching it.

If you haven't watched it. Don't bother.

Mixed feelings

[sarahlmasters · 7/10 · 4 November 2022]

I have read all the reviews previously left and actually agree with most!

The constant whispering from the main character is so annoying and creepy. The loud music over the top of the dialogues is distracting. The fact that the Winter family so readily allowed a stranger to move into their lives at this time. And the underpants scene - what was that about?! The story takes you on a bit of a journey trying to work out which character committed the crime, with some twists and turns. George tries his best to improve the wooden acting of most characters.

The concept of the story is good, but my overall feeling of being weirded and creeped out overrides anything else.

If you do watch it, stick with it to the end, just for closure if nothing else!

Stranger Things Street

[frukuk · 2/10 · 25 October 2022]

Claudia (played by Shirley Henderson) is a very strange fish. Why does she behave the way she does? Is it that breast cancer -- from which she appears to have recovered -- robbed her of control and so she feels a need to take control when a small child goes missing? And what is it with her apparently heightened sexual frustration? Where does that come from?

Being unable to take Claudia seriously, it's very hard to take this mini series seriously.

Is it entertaining? Well, I watched all four episodes, so it clearly managed to hook me. But the conclusion is rather underwhelming, so I really wouldn't recommend watching this.

Don't believe the hate

[e-rob93 · 7/10 · 4 November 2022]

This show's biggest flaw was being on my5. Which is why it's got barely any reviews. Great performances. Shirley Henderson's performance was creepy as HELL and I could barely watch at times, but this is a testament to her performance and not a criticism. I didn't find it particularly slow. It's a bloody 4 episode miniseries, it barely has time to be slow. A solid thriller let down by being released on a small platform. This would have been smashed on netflix. It's not outstanding but it was thoroughly entertaining, and there was never a point I thought ill of anyone's acting, even the kids. Give it a watch and make up your own mind.

Don't waste your time

[Lanecovelucy · 1/10 · 28 October 2022]

This started well, seemed like a good story, if a little predictable, local child goes missing.

It went wrong for me when I realised that Moaning Myrtle really was going to talk in that strange baby voice all the way through the 4 episodes.

Her character was totally unbelievable, as was the police involvement, the fact that the Mother of the child went back to work days after the child was found dead, and the weird neighbours.

Most of the acting was wooden, not helped by the fact that there was no character development. Craig Parkinson tried ever so hard, but he apparently gave up after 3 episodes and just disappeared.

The ending was just diabolical and such a damp squib, I only stuck with it as it was a rainy day and I had nothing much else to do. I really hoped it would be a good ending, it wasn't.

And, what on earth was the underpants thing all about ???

Don't make the mistake I did, find something else to do, anything, just do it and don't watch this dross.

In my opinion, it's a judge for yourself drama

[chrissievalentine · 9/10 · 18 February 2023]

This is a well constructed, excellently acted drama about a murder of a young girl and focuses on the loneliness a single person can feel, that many don't understand, or have any comprehension of, because they've never been brave enough to walk those streets alone.

It ilustrates how reality seems in their eyes, with inevitable consequences, but you need to remember what the lead character is suffering from.... loneliness and the need that arises from that feeling...to help others.. and all because they don't feel worthy of being helped.

Don't judge the series by the reviews..... watch it for yourself and decide.

Cringy main character but still good. Let me explain.

[bay-77008 · 7/10 · 9 January 2024]

I watched on Acorn or Britbox and experienced no loud music drowning out the dialogue. To me, it became clear in the 1st episode that the main character (Claudia) is an empath to the degree that she not only feels what others are feeling but she yearns to do so, and even goes to the extent of emulating these people in pain. She wants to feel everything they feel. It's almost like she wants to eat their pain for them. She's creepy in doing so and many times it's cringy to watch, but the acting is not wooden at all, except by the dead girls mother, who if you paid attention admitted to lacking feelings. Hell, she dancing and drinking in her living room only days after her daughter was had disappeared. Claudia's voice is annoying, no doubt, but didn't deter me from watching. Her acting was spot on.

I also wonder at the number of viewers who didn't understand the plot or the ending. Remember she had cancer and went back to her doctor because she thought it was coming back. Claudia felt her life was over either way since both her husband and son have abandoned her. In her mind why not save the family and take the heat herself since she saw no future.

Claudia was certainly weird as well as depressed and lonely. As an empath she absorbed people's pain and suffering and even made one of the the biggest sacrifices one can make, to fall on the sword to save others.

Naff

[bladebk · 1/10 · 19 October 2022]

Bizarre first 2 episodes.

The main character doesn't seem to have a grip on reality, which is v hard to believe when she is an active school nurse. Then a girl from the school goes missing and she makes it all about her. When the body is found, no one seems to react.

The wife of the Dead girl is back at work in a travel agents within days.

There's some strange neighbour who keeps dolls In a shed, along with what appears to be young girls clothing on the washing line, but the police don't seem interested.

The main character then goes to the parents with all this information about her seeing the school teacher bringing the bike back, but then just walks out, as if the police won't want to interview or speak with her.

Time to switch off I think.

Drivel

[simbajnr-37839 · 1/10 · 26 October 2022]

I've watched many dramas on tv and have to say this is the only one I got fed up with after episode 2! Maybe episode 1, and why do we have to have that hollow music in the background all the time! It just drowns everything, You keep watching it thinking it might get better, but.....no, the lead character seems to get herself where she shouldn't be and nobody bats an eyelid, she moves between an unstable mum to a slightly mad miss Marple, fixated on the missing little girl, while gathering trinkets, her wheezy voice is just irritating, don't bother, take up crochet, stamp collecting, or other exiting activities.

Creepy and slow

[janeuknow · 3/10 · 26 October 2022]

Why hasn't anyone mentioned the underpants!? Omg this was weird, but not a bad fit lol. . What was off whack though was when the dead child's mother goes back to work! I'd be flat on my back or in foetal position for a year.

Moaning myrtle was just the wrong character for this role. Not a bit intriguing just irritating with that awful voice. She's a reasonable actor but should stick to voiceovers. Enough of the weird loud music as well. Just quite pathetic all round. And another thing: why is every blooming drama lately "up north". We do have a lot of other counties you know. I wish producers would get back to making nice enjoyable wholesome food feel stuff. Why does everything have to be off whack and violent?

bizarre and sickening

[jessicabrearley-22008 · 1/10 · 28 October 2022]

Don't waste your time - 4 hours of my life I won't get back :) l tried to stick with this in hopes that the ending would be worth the pure dross I had sat through - thinking surely they couldn't actually let a programme be so bad - I was wrong I have no idea what the hyper sexualisation was about and that boxer scene made me ill I found myself laughing throughout this as I couldn't believe what I was seeing Shirley was painful to watch and I had no idea what her character was meant to portray her as Okay she was lonely and wanted a purpose?? But this does not justify her freakish behaviour........

Terrible

[Sky4021 · 1/10 · 25 October 2022]

Whispering all the time and the loud music you can't hear anything,the music is way too loud! She's whispers every time she talks and I haven't a clue what's going on,also very slow and a little dull and boring! Im not sure why they didn't think this music sounds too loud over the whispering,the viewers won't hear what's going on!the plot is good but doesn't draw me in,I'd be happy to miss the ending if I'm honest,I know some will like it and some will think the same as me the quiet whispering was just too annoying for me actually frustrating because you're really concentrating to try and lip read even!

Please skip this for the good of your mental health

[EndeavoursGirl · 2/10 · 1 January 2024]

Strange. Strange. And more Strange. Stranger Things meets BritBox

Very bizarre main character. Had high hopes. But I think they sunk all their money into the music (perhaps? As it would not stop being spooky music for the 4 episodes I tried to fast forward through) and/or the cinematography. It's filmed well. It just feels crazy. As if 4 people got together to write a script and they all wrote different ones, then mashed them together. Hard.

*But we have no idea why it's a crazy story* Is there a back story? What's up with Shirley?! Or Claudia? Why is she so shiver-me-timbers not right in the head. And yes, as others have mentioned whats up with the underpants.

Or the other strange "I want to be you, or get with you" behaviour. Who knows? Never explained. Nothing is actually ever explained except the ending. And you don't see it coming. You'd think any good mystery you can sort of go, wow... Nope, not this one.

And red herring with that girl at the school... had nothing to do with anything in the main story.

And who thinks up of these crazy storylines... "let's have a missing girl, and the lead character is a survivor of breast cancer (no rhyme or reason), but her son is doing bad in school, so the one guy who is sort of a tutor, let's have him share all his secrets (also has a romp in the hay with the mom.. hey?!) that he steals random items out of nowhere... and bite his mom! Oh and the other neighbours, let's have them adopt a boy who has a physical disability and the mom plays with dolls, or recreates them/rescues them in a house by herself which her husband gets mad at. What. WHAT This is straight out bizarre. I'm sure a really bad drinking game can be made on: drink when you see a doll, drink when you see lead lady try to smell people or lie in their beds or get drunk or crash their social media party.

Just skip this.. why hasn't a real fast forward button been invented yet for online.

Creepy, Unsettling But Entertaining

[mickeygreyeyes · 9/10 · 28 October 2022]

I think I have watched a different mini-series to the rest of these reviewers. This was great and my wife and I couldn't stop watching until the very end. Ok the main protagonist was creepy and just a little bit weird, but she made for a very entertaining piece of drama. Also, if you have a brain all will become clear in watching, and I urge you to give it a go and you will be rewarded. Really good performances throughout we highly recommend this series. Just one more thing, is that, when people suggest in movies or TV that certain events couldn't or wouldn't happen, then most of what we watch would be over in half an hour, and what would be the good in that especially in fiction. Go on take a chance you won't be disappointed.

Not very good

[dalessio-16381 · 3/10 · 14 January 2024]

I wanted to like this series, but it just wasn't very good. The main character was very, very annoying....... Everything from her voice, her mannerisms and her strange, obsessive behavior was creepy.....But not in a way that added to the suspense of the series....more of a distraction to the series. The ending was quite predictable, and not very believable. Also, Many parts just didn't make sense...There was no conclusion to other story lines within the series...For example, the little girl that was being abused at home...or the main character's son being involved with bike thefts and why he had such a bad relationship with his mother.

Not their finest hour

[daveditch-53291 · 2/10 · 4 November 2022]

The whole thing was dark , as in melancholic and odd . There were no really strong characters emerged to engage you . Some familiar faces were completely wasted , trotting around dutifully spewing out their lines .

The positive and possibly contradictory point is that I wanted to see what the conclusion was , putting that in context i could have happily fast forwarded to the second half of the final episode and got it . For the most part it was background TV for me , I was reading and missed many of the clues , subtleties and other important bits yet i still managed to guess 99% of the conclusion , particularly once the culprit was narrowed down .

Surely not the sign of a great story , more like a soap where you can drop in and out at any point .

Soooo bad!!!

[benjamin-norris · 1/10 · 27 October 2022]

This is one of the worst shows I've ever watched, and I've seen a lot.

Shirley Henderson made me want to rub sandpiper on my private's and not in a good way. Her acting is sooo bad it's embarrassing. The plot is ridiculous and the acting from all parties is amateur dramatics. I thought that C5 were upping their game but it's obvious that they still produce third rate dramas such as this. I wouldn't recommend this to my dog let alone other humans as you would have more fun watching the adverts in between this tosh.

I have rated it one star as I can't give it a zero rating and can Shirley Henderson not grace our screens again.

Not the best.

[lucywaddell-25081 · 3/10 · 31 January 2024]

I watched this hoping to see a more recent British drama with elements of mystery etc. I know some of the actors are pretty good in other things I've seen them in. But I have to say this is not great at all, dismal to say the least. I got a bit bored whilst watching and waiting to see what happens, so I ended up skipping to the end basically, I mean I watched three of the four episodes, I couldn't take no more, I was in and out of paying attention, I felt there was too much messing around, Shirley Henderson usually is a good actress, but I just about tolerated her in this. I am not impressed. 3/10.

Just awful

[jkmcgee-50834 · 1/10 · 30 April 2024]

There really isn't much to say about this that is positive if I'm being brutally honest. I typically find Shirley Henderson to be lovely, she's an incredibly talented actress. Her performance in this was so incredibly difficult to watch, not because it was such a strong and gut wrenching performance, because it was annoying. The plot was absolutely absurd, the ending even worse. Not at all worth watch unless you need some background noise and there aren't any other options. I'm so disappointed, the cast is fantastic but the actual plot is just laughable. The last episode I actually said out loud 'You have GOT to be kidding me" as I rolled my eyes. Save yourself the time and skip this one.

Mind numbingly bad

[sid_bubby · 1/10 · 28 October 2022]

Atrocious storyline, script, casting and literally some of the worst acting I've ever seen. I'm upset with myself for persevering with it to see how it ended. Please don't waste your time!! The main character whispers her way through and is so odd but not in the way intended.

I honestly don't know who passed this script, who can direct it and think it's ok and the actors for agreeing to it never mind watching it back and thinking they've done a good job. Channel 5 should steer clear of dramas if this is the tripe they are putting out!! No substance, terrible rushed plot, whispering over constant creepy music lead to one of the worst programmes of the decade!!