DISTURBIA-WHAT NOT TO DO ON YOUR SUMMER VACATION
Written: Apr 13 '07
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Product Rating:
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| Bang For The Buck |
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Pros: Good acting, script and directing
Cons: End a little weak
The Bottom Line: A nice piece of "fright" film without going overboard into the slasher area
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| mike.holmes's Full Review: Disturbia |
I'm glad to report that "Disturia", although advertised as "one of the most frightening movies in years" is not full of the gore of such movies as "Saw" and "The Hills Have Eyes." Instead, the tension and fright in this film is more in the nature of a Hitchcock thriller. Not as good as most of Hitchcock's work, but nevertheless an exciting film.
THE PLOT
In the opening scenes Kale (Shia LeBeouf-"Bobby", "Holes") and his father are coming back from a fishing trip and a horrible accident occurs which kills Kale's dad. Kale, who has been a good student starts to let his grades slide as well as his attitude. He punches a teacher and is put on three months house arrest with an ankle monitor. His house arrests starts at the first of the summer vacation and so Kale gets to spend that time off in his house.
Kale starts looking around at his neighbors through binoculars and he has an interesting neighborhood. First, a vivacious, very attractive young lady moves into the house next door. Her name is Ashley (Sarah Roemer-"The Grudge 2") and they become good friends. Along with Ashley, Kale's only other friend is a rather geeky young man by the name of Ronnie. Since Kale can't leave his house, his friends join in on looking at the neighbors.
Across the street from Kale's house is a very strange man by the name of Turner (David Morse-"The Green Mile" "Hack"). Kale starts to piece evidence together which he believes links Mr. Turner to a series of gruesome killings in Austin, Texas. (we're never really the location of this film). As Kale, Ashley and Ronnie all get involved in watching the strange goings-on at Mr. Turner's house, Turner soon discovers that they are watching him.
Turner befriends Kale's mom, Julie (Carrie-Anne Moss-"Memento", Trinity in the "Matrix" series and "Chocolat"). Kale keeps getting in trouble with the house arrests rules due to some mix-ups and both the police and his mom don't believe him when he says that Turner is a dangerous man.
The last half of the film concerns what Mr. Turner does to Kale and his family and film. There are over thirty minutes of intense drama which were set up nicely by the first two-thirds of the film.
WHAT I LIKED ABOUT THE FILM
Director D. J. Caruso ("The Shield", "Two For The Money") utilizes a few of the typical thriller methods of building on the suspense. There are several scenes that make the viewer and actors "jump" that turn out to be nothing to worry about. But Caruso gradually moves the action into a realistically frightening scenario. There is no real suspense as to who the bad guy is, but there is an abundant amount of suspense concerning what he will do.
All of the main characters in the movie do an excellent job. Young Mr. LeBeouf shows an ability to be believable as a teenager whose had some really bad breaks. Sarah Roemer is also excellent as a somewhat rebellious teen. Ms. Moss's part is not too involves but she does a good job playing a concerned mother. Morse portrays the evil neighbor with a restrained job of acting the adds to the creepiness of his character. Most of the films that I've seen Morse in had him playing "the good guy" so this was a nice switch.
The original music by Geoff Zanelli ("Pirates of the Caribbean" series) was perfect for a film that moves gradually towards a scary finale. And the cinematography of Rogier Stoffers ("The School of Rock") provides some great visual aids.
The film was co-written by Christopher B. Landon ("Boy's Life 3) and Carl Ellsworth ("Red Eye") and for the most part they do a good job. I thought the ending was a little weak.
Finally, as I wrote earlier, the film manages to evoke a frightening, believable story without grossing out the audience with severed heads.
FOUR STARS
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Scary Movie
Viewing Method: Other
Film Completeness: Looked complete to me.
Worst Part of this Film: Ending
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Epinions.com ID:
mike.holmes
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Member: Mike Holmes
Location: Odessa, Texas
Reviews written: 1240
Trusted by: 359 members
About Me:
TO HONOR TED KENNEDY, CONGRESS SHOULD PASS A MEANINGFUL HEALTH CARE BILL
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