"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
"It isn't how you get there, it's what you do along the way that counts."
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Director: D.J. Caruso Screenplay: Christopher B. Landon & Carl Ellsworth Genre: Comedy - Crime - Drama - Romance - Thriller Country: USA Certification: 15+ Language: English/Spanish Released: 21st January, 2008 (DVD)
MAIN CAST: Shia LaBeouf (Kale Brecht) Sarah Roemer (Ashley Carlson) Carrie-Anne Moss (Julie Brecht) David Morse (Robert Turner) Aaron Yoo (Ronnie) Jose Pablo Cantillo (Officer Gutierrez) Matt Craven (Daniel Brecht) Viola Davis (Detective Parker)
Following the death of his father, Kale, a lazy and dysfunctional teenager, has a go at his Spanish teacher and ends up under house arrest. Spending his first few days playing video games, watching television, listening to music, surfing the internet, and acting like a veritable slob, his mother puts a stop to it all by cancelling internet services, itunes, and by literally cutting the plug off the television set in his bedroom. Totally bored out of his wits, and unable to stray further than 100 feet from the box that controls his ankle cuff, Kale's interest is caught when a sexy teen moves in next door.
Grabbing his binoculars, he begins spying on her - but his voyeurism turns into obsession and he begins timing his day around her activities, and the activities of his other neighbours. While watching television with his mother one night, a news broadcast comes on stating that a woman has gone missing, and that the police's only clue is a witnesses description of a vehicle... a vehicle that looks very much like the one Kale's neighbour drives. When his best friend comes over to spend the day, Kale tells him about the activities of all his neighbours, including the sexy new girl next door and the strange neighbour whose car resembles the one that police are looking for. When the sexy girl next door catches them spying on her, she confronts Kale and his friend, but they quickly tell her that they aren't spying on her - but on the neighbour next door. When they explain to her that the man is driving the same car a witness saw, Ashley, the sexy new neighbour, takes an interest and decides to join them on a stake-out - which, as time goes by, leads them to believe that they might be right... that the man next door is a vicious serial killer.
'Disturbia' is reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 'Rear Window' in which a man confined to a wheelchair begins spying on his neighbours - only to discover that one of them is a murderer. Of course, that particular movie was re-made, and the storyline has been done to death, no pun intended - but 'Disturbia' is one of the rare movies to copy Hitchcock that is actually worth watching.
'Disturbia' does not possess that dark and gloomy atmosphere that seems to have become a requirement for this genre of movie. The atmosphere is relaxed, even funny at times - which is why, when the tone shifts and violence creeps into the scenes, it becomes somewhat disturbing. There is no real tension, no second-guessing - 'Disturbia' is what it is... a movie that is entertaining, possesses a dash of romance, a bit of suspense, and a heavy dose of teen frustration and imagination.
There are no great actors in this movie, no up-and-coming stars, only down-to-earth actors who do a good job of capturing our attention and keeping us glued to the screen... and that's what it's all about - keeping the audience in thrall.
The dialogue is clever, sharp and to the point, the setting is reminiscent of the 'Desperate Housewives' neighbourhood (Wisteria Lane), as is the general atmosphere of the movie, and although there is a heavy dose of violence and gore - 'Disturbia' is Alfred Hitchcock on a Prozac day!
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
Advantages: Terrific tension built up throughout the film, excellent performances all round. Disadvantages: Slow to get going, build up is gradual and this may put some viewers off.
RazzaLazza 15.03.2008 (15.03.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Disturbia (DVD)
Advantages: Terrific tension built up throughout the film, excellent performances all round. Disadvantages: Slow to get going, build up is gradual and this may put some viewers off.
RazzaLazza 15.03.2008 (15.03.2008)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Disturbia (DVD)
Advantages: Pretty decent performances, suspenseful at times, Disadvantages: Predictable, formulaic teen movie, apparently tries to be funny but I didn't feel that worked
IzzyS 27.01.2008 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Disturbia (DVD)
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