WFG RATING: B+

Tubi presents a MarVista Entertainment presentation of a Elman Films/Marginal Mediaworks production. Directed by Amara Cash. Produced by Tracy Chitupatham, Neil Elman, and Kate Tumanova. Written by Arland Digirolamo and Alana Wexler. Cinematography by Josh Maas. Edited by Don Money.

Stars Tahj Mowry, Camila Banus, Jonah Lien Hwang, Kayla Maisonet, Tyler Lofton, Lydia Look, Max E. Williams, Ben Zelevansky, and Christine Dunford. 

A couple’s dream home becomes a nightmare in this Tubi original with a breakout performance from Jonah Lien Hwang. 

Engaged couple Jason Moss and Jackie Taylor have found the perfect home in the suburbs to start their new life together. Jason is a contractor and Jackie is a paralegal. The home used to belong to the grandfather of Alec Todd, a teenager. However, when the grandfather died, Jason and Jackie sent a letter to Alec’s parents, who agreed to sell them the house. At first, Alec is supportive of the decision until he notices little things that begin to make him unhinged.

Alec begins to have the notion that the house should have been his after his grandfather died. When Jason and Jackie discover Alec constantly overstaying his welcome, he snaps. With his friends Ray and Ethan, Alec hatches a plan to ensure the couple move out. They begin pulling pranks and recording them. However, as the pranks begin to become more dangerous, one thing is clear. Alec will do whatever it takes to get the house back and now, he plans to do it at any cost. 

From director Amara Cash is this movie that plays off as a thriller but has its moments of comic nature as a break from the seriousness of the film. The story of a psychotic grandson who will do anything to keep his grandfather’s legacy by ensuring the new owners follow the “rules”. It is insane to see this suburban teen go ruthless and go way too far. What’s even more shocking is that despite only one who believes them, it is like in the eyes of others, Alec couldn’t be more perfect. 

The film has an amazing breakout performance from Jonah Lien Hwang. The son of actress Jennifer Lien and filmmaker Phil Hwang, Jonah definitely follows well as quite an actor as after many TV performances, he pulls off a brilliant performance as Alec, a teen who first comes off as supportive and looking like he came from a 50s era sitcom. However, once his true colors pop up, he delivers a performance on the heels of being completely “bats**t crazy”. His mother Sharon coddles him and enables him while his father, who looks like the love child of Gordon Ramsey and Gary Busey, knows something isn’t right with his son. 

The couple are played by Tahj Mowry and Camila Banus. Mowry, forever known as Michelle Tanner’s BFF Teddy on Full House and the brother of twins Tia and Tamera, is great as Jason, a contractor who just wants to start a new life in the suburbs. Like Alec, he starts off as nice but going the Andy Norris route, once things go too far, an unexpected side of him slowly comes out and not just him. The same goes for his fiancee Jackie, played by Banus, who when things go far wants to play things safe, but let’s face it. No one believes them. Except for the neighbor she almost hits twice, played with such sarcastic wit by Christine Dunford. 

What starts off as meaningless pranks escalate into a shocking and bloody third act when Alec really goes unhinged. This is where we see all three core characters in Jason, Jackie, and Alec’s friendship really deteriorate into a two against one bloodbath and it just has to be seen as this is one chaotic scene. 

Get Off My Lawn is a really good thriller where three people go from sweet and kind hearted to determined and crazy. Jonah Lien Hwang is a name to look out for with his amazing performance of antagonist Alec, who warns our couple to “follow the rules or face the consequences”. Definitely worth checking out!

The film is now streaming on Tubi.