The American Heritage Dictionary defines “thriller” as “one that thrills, especially a sensational or suspenseful book, story, play or movie.” Given this definition, one would expect a movie of the thriller genre to contain some amount of tension or excitement. Such is not the case with Daniel Sackheim?s “The Glass House.”

When 16-year-old Ruby Baker?s (Leelee Sobieski) parents die in a car crash on their anniversary, they leave her and her younger brother Rhett (Trevor Morgan) a $4 million trust fund. The siblings? guardianship is transferred to their parents? old friends, Terry (Stellan Skarsgard) and Erin (Diane Lane) Glass, who spirit the kids off to their Cliffside mansion in Malibu, a mansion with glass everything; the title?s a two-level pun, see? Oh, those clever moviemakers and their wordplay!

The film wastes no time dropping heavy hints that something is Very Wrong at the Glass? house, with Terry?s slimy not-quite come-ons to Ruby and Erin?s shooting up “insulin,” as well as some “business associates” of Terry?s who make it very clear they?re not happy about his late debt payments. Could this be where that trust fund comes back into play?

To her credit, Ruby wastes no time running to the family lawyer (Bruce Dern) to voice her fears, but this being a movie, he takes no useful action until it?s too late. The movie itself also takes no useful action until the last few scenes, plodding along and dropping ominous hint after threatening implication until the audience is numb.

Even with decent acting from Sobieski and Skarsgard, and some nice photography and mood-setting rain (the house is beautiful, albeit sterile and cold), there isn?t enough in this movie to make it worth the ticket. Wait for the rental, or skip it entirely.

Visit The Glass House for more information.

One star out of four.