The Ryan family is suburban picturesque perfection. Parents Michael and Katie (Jones and Gerard) along with their teen daughters Kristen and Maddy, have just moved into their dream home. Surrounded by residential splendor, the Ryans immediately unpack and explore their new surroundings.

While Michael is visited by his quirky neighbors who like to gossip about the neighborhood (in particular, about the former Ryan home owners), older daughter Kristen uncovers a tucked away room in the basement that houses a Ouija board.

Clearly, that is the portal to the evil spirit world that will be unlocked almost instantly.

Katie is targeted as the maternal siren to become inhabited by the evil demon, who previously took control over the previous mom and sent her straight into a mental institution. Surprising? Not in the least.

The Evil Down the Street is nothing unique or shocking. Not many scares, no gore and absolutely no paranormal special effects. That actually scores points when the storyline can be pulled off without relying on cheap tricks which often dumbs down the watcher.

However, the plot inches along in a stale manner as Katie’s behavior changes from doting wife and mother, to a devilishly clad sex kitten who grips her vodka like a pet. The girls fear of mom builds while Michael’s observation is more like a ball of confusion.

Of course like any possession film, in walks the priest coming to cleanse the house and perform an impromptu exorcism. Espinosa does a superb job as the matter-of-fact clergyman, pinpointing the malevolent spirit within Katie and testing its influence.

The scariest part of The Evil Down the Street is during the opening credits, “Based on True Events.” Although it doesn’t completely deliver on the typical sinister tone of a possession movie, it’s worth the watch to see a bit of comic relief thrown in by writer Craig Aherns as he desperately tries to reel in his chatterbox of a wife.