Kale has a life most teenagers would envy. He spends his days endlessly playing video games, surfing the net, eating junk food and watching cable. He has complete free reign of the house, and a beautiful young hottie named Ashley has just moved in next door. There’s only one problem—he’s not allowed to leave the house. Kale’s under court-ordered house arrest for three months, and if he takes one step beyond a 100-foot perimeter of the house, his next confinement will be in a real prison.
"Every killer lives next door to someone."
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John Chard
5/23/2020
7 / 10
Oh my god, you've made the tower of Twinkie! Is that in a stalker's handbook somewhere?
As the all mighty great and powerful Hollywood continued to mine "Hitchcock's" works for inspiration, they landed upon the idea of re-imaging "Rear Window" for a modern audience. Directed by D.J. Caruso, Disturbia actually turns out to be a solid suspense thriller. The first half of the pic is all jocular with hormonal character introductions that come with giggly slices of humour, and then there's the big shift to the thriller that most viewers were expecting, as the makers manage to pull it off with a great final act that is edge of the seat viewing.
There's nothing new on offer here, the formula has been (and will for ever more be) done a zillion times, but the two fold splicing of genres works well and the makers aren't trying to fool anyone with their approach work. Cast are fine, Shia LaBeouf's follows on from his enjoyable turn in "Transformers" with this pleasing on the eye show, he shows signs of some good acting chops around some rougher edges. Sarah Roemer is solid enough, and nails down that teen love interest characterisation, whilst Carrie-Anne Moss puts a bit of meat onto the adult bones of the Mother character.
Unfortunately, in what is one of the key roles, David Morse is underused, he does OK with what he has to work with, and convinces in a two layer role, but one feels his talent doesn't quite come to the fore here. Still, it's a minor complaint, for this is a solid genre entry with both halves of the film never less than entertaining - even if you might find yourself yearning for some "Hitchcock" genius afterwards. 7/10
**_Shia LaBeouf in a Rear Window-like thriller_**
Five months shy of 18 years-old, a teen in suburbia (LaBeouf) finds himself under house arrest but, thankfully, an attractive new girl moves in next door (Sarah Roemer) to stir his interest. He starts to suspect that a neighbor might be a notorious serial killer (David Morse). Carrie-Anne Moss is on hand as his mother.
"Disturbia" (2007) has a set-up similar to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” and later imitations, such as “Fright Night” and “Abominable.” LaBeouf’s star was rising at the time and he’s fine as the everyman teen protagonist. Roemer’s star was also rising, but her career never panned out into anything significant.
It’s perfectly fine as a psychological thriller with a one-dimensional milieu in the mold of “Rear Window” or “What Lies Beneath,” but never becomes anything more than that and is easily the least of ’em. It’s strangely dull. But, if you like the cast, give it a try.
It runs 1 hour, 44 minutes, and was shot in the heart of Greater Los Angeles in the town of Whittier.
GRADE: C+
Disturbia is a modern thriller that captures the essence of suspense through a clever blend of drama, tension, and relatable characters. The film introduces us to Kale, played by Shia LaBeouf, a teenager under house arrest who finds unexpected ways to pass the time. His curiosity about the lives of his neighbors quickly escalates into something far more gripping. The movie's strong setup in the first act establishes both the stakes and Kale's emotional depth, making the story feel grounded despite its escalating tension.
David Morse's performance as a mysterious neighbor is one of the film's highlights, delivering an understated but chilling presence that keeps the audience guessing. The cast as a whole is well-chosen, with Sarah Roemer and Carrie-Anne Moss rounding out the ensemble in complementary roles. One of the more thought-provoking aspects of the film is how it toes the line between innocent curiosity and intrusive stalking, making you question Kale’s actions as well as your own perspective as a viewer. This layered tension adds depth to the experience, even as the story transitions into its action-packed third act.
What sets Disturbia apart is its ability to combine an intimate, character-driven story with moments of real suspense. The film may flirt with familiar tropes, but it does so with enough charm and style to stand out. With a solid script, strong performances, and a touch of modern flair, Disturbia is an engaging thriller that’s well worth revisiting for fans of suspenseful storytelling.
