DISTURBIA (2007)

Directed By: D.J. Caruso 
Written By: Christopher Landon & Carl Ellsworth 
Story By: Christopher Landon 
Cinematography By: Rogier Stoffers 
Editor: Jim Page 


Cast: Shai LeBouf, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo, David Morse, Carrie-Anne Moss, Viola Davis, Matt Craven, Jose Pablo Cantillo 


After his father is killed in a car accident, things unravel for Kale Brecht and he is placed under house-arrest for punching his Spanish teacher. Having nothing better to do, Kale occupies himself by spying on his neighbors. But one night, he witnesses what appears to be a murder going on in Mr. Turner's house. Kale becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind these murders but, after a few unsettling run-ins with Mr. Turner, it becomes a matter of life and death. And the ominous question: Who is watching whom?
I have truly lost touch with the movie going public. As this movie was the #1 movie in America for weeks. This is basically a teen retread of the Alfred Hitchcock classic REAR WINDOW. While it is entertaining. It also plays like it was put together by numbers from films and scenes you’ve seen in better films.

The only real reason to watch this film is Shia Lebouf he is a good capable leading man. Not entirely rugged or hard bodied or all that handsome bit has a geeky, smart, funny, smooth and good looking.

The film offers no attempt to make us wonder if his character is imagining the things he sees. Due to his being cooped up. Soon as we see David Morse’s character wow know he’s guilty and smarmy. Like when he catches Shia’s love interest played by Sarah Roemer following him. He just corners her takes her keys sits in the car and tells her to leave him alone. Yeah right! That’s not creepy as he took that extra effort and time to deliver a simple message.

The film is filled with little inconsisities as one would expect. Like when Shia becomes an electronic expert out of nowhere. His crushes family problems which disappear rather fast. As it seems just a detail to make her have something dramatic in her background. When they see a supposed victim leave the killers house SPOILER it’s the killer in a dress that just so happens to fit. Especially when the victim was short and he is tall spoiler end, Yeah they missed that tidbit.

From a club plus bow was she ok to drive wouldn’t it have been easier for her to just take his car with him and where did he dump the car? I know I’m thinking too much but maybe the screenwriters should have taken these things into consideration.

The cops are looking for a serial killer with a dented blue mustang and can’t see the forest for the trees. Hey that guy has one or at least a blue mustang without a dent. He lives in the suburbs oh no it can’t be him huh? Plus after all he’s Caucasian even though most serial killers are. So let’s go bust the black kid who just moved in, for what? Something last week a guy was robbed at night he said it was dark so he’a Black, dark if it was a white guy his skin would have shown through the darkness?

Luckily the film moves pretty fast. So you don’t have to linger in certain details. --Above all else the film is entertaining. Though utterly forgettable that plays more like a modern film of it’s time meant to tie in things that were hip at the time.

The direction of the film does have style even if it is rather basic. It serves it’s purpose. One would expect better fro. Director DJ Caruso after such a strong debut with the movie THE SALTON SEA. Though this film is better then his movie before this TAKING LIVES which was only noteworthy only for Angelina Jolie’s rugged (is here any other) sex scene and the darkness of the materials

Watching this film I wondered what a day must be like as the suburban police officer in this film going after the house arrest kid. The kid who hit his teacher. Just stepped out of jurisdiction. I was going to respond to that 7/11 shoplifting but this is more juicier yeah the kid or the domestic disturbance call. Which could be messy and emotional. Well that teacher was my cousin. So let me get my revenge on.

Also the serial killer with a pit of dead bodies. How does he hide the smell? Why does he kill? Who cares I guess he just does. While some people knit, he massacres. No one. iTunes or thought him creepy. Especially how nosy neighbors are in the suburbs. What the victims know a total of no one? As no one seems to come looking for them, nor do they have an alert on anyone missing. They didn’t tell anyone where they were going or who they were seeing?

And at the end a reprieve of a character we all thought dead reeks of a test audience comment card. Plus the girl he has a crush on I understand the need for flirtation yet more comes off as a tease. A not very interesting one. I would write more but really there is none to write about.

The film is disappointing, didn’t think it would be great but st the very least predictable and cheesy movie and a popcorn filled ride, but all I can say is it is entertaining if you check your brain at the door. There are no scares, no jumps, no surprises. This is another film that had possibilities but didn’t use them.

As what if the killer just got away with it his stupid plan to frame someone and killed everyone but the girlfriend. She knows the truth but is scared because he got away with it and there is no proof. How do the cops search the house and not notice all these secret rooms and compartments.

Plus how did he hide Shia’s mother so fast since it seems to take 10 minutes to get to her location (by the way I would love that house it looks small but has all this massive storage space of course it’s used to hide dead bodies. But that all really depends on the owner with all the junk o have I could use that. Though the resale value for him and once the new owners discover all the secrets. The best move for him might be to burn it down.)

This film has promise but seems more like a big screen pot boiler. As it plays more like a thriller for teenagers only.


GRADE: C+