Right out of the gate, "The End of Oak Street" presents a bit of a wacko, sci-fi concept, but if you give it a chance, the movie definitely delivers.

The movie follows a family in their struggle for survival when their home, and the entirety of the titular Oak Street, suddenly and inexplicably gets transported into the past, when dinosaurs roamed the earth.

The parents, Denise and Greg Platt, played by Anne Hathaway and Ewan McGregor, go from navigating a troubled relationship to fending off feathered reptilian predators, literally overnight.

And yes, you read that right, the dinosaurs in "End of Oak Street" are not the kind you would see in any 80’s textbook, even though that’s when the movie initially takes place. While you can still spot a scaled stegosaurus and what was possibly a variant of an ankylosaur, a large number of the dinosaurs are furry and feathery, which brings them closer to today’s more accepted and updated depictions, scientifically speaking. It is a jarring change that lasts for a moment, and just as you might be wondering how dangerous a giant chicken could really be, one of them devours a hapless victim and you get your answer.

You know full well going in that there are going to be dinosaurs, but the film very methodically sets up the stakes first before we get a glimpse at them.

The Platts, along with their children Audrey and Brian (Maisey Stella and Christian Convery) form the typical American family. But underneath it all the cracks have been forming for some time, with Greg having to take odd jobs to make ends meet and Denise suffering from a feeling of restlessness. The undoubtedly unusual circumstances cause even more strain, and the battle is not only to survive, but to keep going and survive together.

Despite the tight 90 minute runtime, the dinosaurs don’t really show up till a good 20 to 30 minutes in. But the time isn’t wasted. Instead they lurk in the periphery of your vision, just a shadow off to the side, or a form that you just missed, building up a suspense that feels doubly intense as the idyllic, sunny suburban vibes contrast sharply with the stark horror of impending doom.

Of course the obvious point of comparison here is "Jurassic Park."  Those involved knew for sure that their film would be held up side by side with the Spielberg classic, and they weren’t shy about it, even leaning into the comparison by giving little nods to the ‘90s film.

Perhaps because it was set in the 80’s when things were clearer and life was simpler, there is also something reminiscent of the "Twilight Zone" about the movie, in how the unknown slowly creeps into the familiar. It’s at the same time eerie and horrifying.

Much like the "Twilight Zone," there really is no explanation given as to the cause of the anomaly. There’s a theory, some advanced science thrown around like it was simple algebra, but there was nothing definitive. There was no expert saying this is what happened, no secret device that explained the whole reason for the event, nothing. it was an unexplained blip and the movie is better for it. You don’t spend too much time wondering and worrying about it because, well, your main concern is not becoming dino-dinner.

An explanation would have taken the attention away from the core of the story. No, not the dinos, as impressive-looking as they are. But the core of the film is the family dynamic.

Hathaway and McGregor both deliver great performances, and compliment each other in their roles, with Mcgregor playing the dad as more positive and eternally optimistic, while Hathaway played her role as more pragmatic and decisive. It is a subtle point but you quickly see who wears the pants in the family as in the film McGregor often has something to hit with while Hathaway ends up with a rifle in her hands, every bit the imposing mother protecting her cubs.

All in all the movie is a mish-mash of various inspirations and tropes, but they do mish and mash quite wonderfully. It has great visuals, plenty of suspense and action, and the right amount of heart. And yes, tons of dinosaurs too.