MANILA, Philippines - There is little that’s more overpowering, reckless and all-consuming than intense desire. For some, that desire bleeds into obsession. Global superstar Jennifer Lopez leads the cast Universal Pictures’ The Boy Next Door, a psychological thriller directed by industry veteran Rob Cohen that explores a forbidden attraction that goes much too far.
In the film, Lopez stars as Claire Peterson, a high-school literature teacher struggling to get back in the dating game after separating from the cheating Garrett (John Corbett of NBC’s Parenthood), her husband of 18 years. As their teenage son, Kevin (Ian Nelson of The Hunger Games), deals with being bullied by his schoolmates, it’s as if Claire’s prayers are answered when a handsome and charismatic 19-year-old named Noah (Ryan Guzman of Step Up series), befriends Kevin after moving in next door to care for his sick uncle — following the tragic deaths of both his mother and father. Though he becomes friendly with Kevin, Noah’s attraction to Claire at first sight is more than palpable.
Claire welcomes the friendship and subsequently the flirtation. Her seemingly harmless flirtation continues to encourage Noah’s behavior, and before she knows it, he’s fallen hard for her.
Noah’s fatal attraction will force Claire to her limits as she protects her world from being torn apart and her family from a psychotic danger.
Opening across the Philippines today, The Boy Next Door is distributed by United International Pictures through Columbia Pictures.