Disturbia
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David MorseDirector: D.J. Caruso
Year of Release: 2007
This movie is basically an updated, teen version of Hitchcock’s classic “Rear Window.” A person confined to their home spies on the neighbors and suspects one of them is a killer. Disturbia is not a classic but it is an entertaining film that is well done. Kind of like “Rear Window” mixed with Tom Hank’s “The ‘burbs” and “Fright Night.”
One of the ways it ups the thrill level from “Rear Window” is by making the suspected neighbor much more of a Hannibal Lecter type serial killer. This guy has gone to great lengths to do his dirty work and to make sure it’s covered up. David Morse is sufficiently creepy to play the killer, and he’s played villians many times before, but he is not really a terrifying presence by himself.
Shia LaBeouf plays the main character, Kale, and he does a great job. However, I don’t think Shia is a great actor. He falls into the category of a John Cusack or Julia Roberts where he is good at playing characters like himself, but that’s about it. He’s great at what he does, but it’s the same guy in each movie - Transformers, Disturbia, Indiana Jones, etc. Fortunately that guy is entertaining and very natural. I enjoy him in this movie and that’s good enough.
The movie is rather light entertainment, but it is entertaining and fairly clever. Definitely give it a shot if you’re looking for a light thriller.
