Disturbia (2007)

You won't be disappointed!

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

The first time I watched this movie, I feel like I traveled through countless different vibes. I feel that this movie accomplished a feeling of different moods throughout, but ultimately got the point that it was trying to portray across. This movie, for the most part, was successful in keeping the audience engaged and on edge throughout.This movie starts off with making the audience feel bad for Kale, who has just lost his father in an accident. So, when he punches his teacher due to a comment he made about his father, the audience still feels sympathetic towards Kale. Once Kale is on house arrest, the mood shifts to more comedic occurrences with him and his best friend Ronnie. The absolute boredom that Kale goes through brings out some funny scenes and uplifts the audiences mood at the start of the film.Then, there is also a great romantic mood in this movie. As Ashley, his next door neighbor, moves in, they start to interact and become romantically involved. This opens up the doors to a separate audience who enjoys romance in films.Finally, the main objective of the film is to portray itself as a true thriller. I believe this is done extremely well because it slowly builds throughout the course of the movie. At first, Turner is just a neighbor who mows his lawn a couple times a day. However, as the movie progresses more and more suspense builds through Kale trying to figure out if Turner is the serial killer from the news. By the time the movie is in it's last thirty minutes, it is an all out jaw dropping thriller.One important thing to also mention is the amazing soundtrack to this film. Each song really helps to elevate the current situation Kale is in with being under house arrest. When the song "Lonely Day" is played, it really does make you sympathize with how lonely Kale probably is.There are so many different moods in this film, and that is why I ultimately believe it was successful, and an overall great production. This is still one of my favorite movies to watch to this day, and I will always appreciate the versatility it provided.

What a great premise...teen in a great old house with sloppy tendencies and TONS of electronic stuff {stretched a bit, for me!}, watching his neighbours while he is under observation and electronically 'wired' to his house and yard. Acting is good, especially Roehmer {mmmmm}; they could have dropped the Asian guy {but he was 'ok'}, demon-looking neighbour. But the movie gets RIDICULOUS 3/4's of the way through, and is just plain STUPID at the end. Don't bother with the last portion ~ just watch the first 3/4 of it..and you can figure it out!

Director D.J. Caruso isn't a bad Filmmaker but is not Great by any means. He occasionally makes interesting Films like "The Salton Sea" (2002) and "Taking Lives" (2004). But "By the Numbers" most of the time. This is one of those.No surprises, not much Style, and conspicuously cute, this is a rather tame take on Hitchcock's "Rear Window" (1954) by way of "Teen Romantic Angst". Shia Labeouf is a nervous, hyper-active Actor that has attained Star Status way beyond His ability to transform or "Act" like anything more than what He is. One Role is the same turn as another.Here He is upstaged on every level by David Morse, if not everyone else, who does just what the Script calls for and nothing more. The Buddy Sidekick is annoying most of the time and the pretty "Girl Next Door" is pretty smart but the Chemistry between the Teens is nothing short of standard stuff and Clichéd.The Movie meanders along with one scene melting into the next until commonplace and complacency sets in and all of sudden the Third Act wakes from its comatose state and erupts in a frenzied finale that is all over the place and never settles in a coherent display of what is happening.The Film is Slightly Overrated and a bland, borderline boring Psychological Thriller that never quite thrills or goes very deep into the Mind of the Killer. Young People who don't have very much Film Going Experience may find it more entertaining than others. But it is just too safe and saccharine for its Own Good and is never intriguing or intense. Just another exercise in Standard Stuff Movie Making.

With in the first few minutes... Any movie buff will recognize Disturbia as a rip-off of Rear Window, directed by the Master A. Hitchcock. This is usually a sign the rest of the film will suck. But wait don't leave, I promise it's good. It's geared towards the under 22 crowd, but I'm 50 and I enjoy it even upon 3rd viewing. Here's why good direction that builds suspense. Plus good use of low lighting and darkness. Also the characters are likable and believable. Shia's love interest is well played. And Shia's acting is good, he is our flawed hero. The old plot is updated thru the use of technology and darker horror. Once this movie starts it moves like a runaway train with a psychotic on board!