Watch The Boy

In the 2015 thriller film, The Boy, Jennifer Lopez stars as Claire Peterson, a high school teacher who is going through a rough patch in her personal life. She is recently separated from her husband, Garrett, and is trying to cope with her son, Kevin, moving away to college. One day, Claire meets her new neighbor, Noah Sandborn, played by Ryan Guzman, a charming and handsome 19-year-old who has just moved in next door. The two quickly strike up a friendship, and things seem to be going well until one night when Noah attempts to kiss Claire. She rebuffs his advances, realizing that the age difference between them is too great and that he is one of her students.

Noah, however, is not one to take rejection lightly. He becomes increasingly fixated on Claire, stalking her and invading her privacy. He even manages to insinuate himself into her life, posing as a helpful friend to Kevin and managing to worm his way into her home. As Claire’s life descends into chaos, she realizes that Noah is not who he seems and that Kevin’s life is in danger.

The Boy is a tense and suspenseful thriller that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats. Jennifer Lopez delivers a strong performance as Claire, a woman who finds herself in over her head when she crosses paths with a dangerous and manipulative young man. Ryan Guzman is equally compelling as Noah, striking just the right balance between charming and creepy to make viewers uncomfortable.

In addition to the strong performances by the leads, The Boy benefits from an excellent supporting cast. Kristin Chenoweth, in particular, shines as Claire’s best friend and coworker, Vicky. Chenoweth brings her trademark humor and warmth to the role, providing some much-needed levity in the midst of the film’s tension.

One of The Boy’s strongest assets is its direction. Director Rob Cohen does an excellent job building suspense and keeping the audience guessing about Noah’s true intentions. He employs effective camera work and clever editing to create a sense of unease and paranoia that permeates the entire film.

The Boy also benefits from its tight screenplay. Writer Barbara Curry keeps the story moving at a brisk pace, never allowing the tension to flag during the film’s 91-minute runtime. She also expertly manages to weave in themes of power and control, exploring the ways in which men can abuse their positions of authority.

While The Boy has some flaws, including a somewhat predictable ending and a few contrivances in the plot, overall it is a well-crafted and entertaining thriller. Fans of the genre will find plenty to enjoy in this film, from the strong performances to the expert direction and tight screenplay. The Boy is a film that will keep viewers on the edge of their seats until its final, shocking conclusion.

The Boy is a 2015 thriller with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 4.7 and a MetaScore of 30.