Last Thursday night the thriller “The Boy Next Door” hit theatres, presenting a sensual, fast-paced ride ,perfect for a date or a girls night out. 

Starring Jennifer Lopez and Ryan Guzman, the film tells a story of lust, adultery and obsession. While I doubt the movie will win any awards for being original, it was an enjoyable hour and a half. 

The biggest issue I had with the movie can be summed up in one word: predictability. The male lead, Guzman, is initially presented as a type of Prince Charming, complete with beautifully tanned muscles and a passion for classic literature. While it’s fun to dream and enjoy the fantasy, it’s clear it’s just that: a fantasy. He’s obviously hiding something ugly. Slowly you see his boiling aggression spill over in unsettling ways. 

As in most thrillers, there are going to be bumps and jumps along the way, but there will still be a happy ending. The viewer can see Lopez’s fear as she’s faced with the possibility of losing everything she holds dear. Yet the resolution offers no surprises and is easily forecast from the beginning.

For those willing to suspend reality and intellectual thoughts, “The Boy Next Door” offers several entertaining elements: fantasy, sensuality and horror. The fantasy being the Prince Charming we see on screen: a thoughtful and sexy handyman. I know for many women, this element would be reason enough to speed to the big screen. The mildly explicit sex scene with Lopez, as well as the many shirtless Guzman scenes, provide a flowing sensuality which many will find appealing. Additionally, Guzman’s violent dark side and twisted actions lend horror and exhilaration as you curl in your seat with your eyes half covered, in anticipation of what he will do next. 

Overall, I enjoyed the ride the film took me on. I was ogling. I was laughing. I was startled, scared and then relieved.

If you insist on picking apart the obvious plot, go see something else. I recommend “House at the End of the Street,” which had some startling plot twists in addition to the natural suspense of any good thriller.

“The Boy Next Door” provides an excuse to ogle a good-looking man, enjoy mildly explicit sex scenes and cuddle up close with your date. Take it at face value as a sexy thriller, and it will serve as an entertaining guilty pleasure film.