A couple of young adults (played by Liana Liberato and Noah Le Gros) head to a secluded spot on Cape Cod for a romantic trip before summer begins. Their quiet time is interrupted by an older pair (Jake Weber and Maryann Nagel), but that turns out to be minor compared to what’s happening around them. "The Beach House," from 2019, is skillfully crafted as a slow-developing ecological mystery set along the Northeaste…

This environmental thriller arrives at a relevant moment, creating an unsettling mood, but suffers from a storyline that drags—the tension doesn't build until near the very end. The presence of a remarkably irritating and unhelpful romantic partner extends what feels like an excessive runtime; the film’s length felt more akin to 165 minutes than its actual 88.