Not another Hitchcock rip-off! Oh, hang on? Hey! It's actually all right!

Rating: 8/10 (30 January 2009)

Kale and his dad are fishing and having a good time. Their at an age when Kale's life is about to become his own. They are comfortable in each other's company and so are we. However, on the way back to town, they are involved in a car crash and Kale's father is killed. This tragedy plays on him and after getting into trouble at school one time to many and punching a teacher, Kale is giving a break of sorts, by avoiding Juvie and being placed under house arrest with an electronic tagging device. Obviously being an anxious, amorous teenager, this sucks for Kale till the gorgeous Ashley moves in next door. Things are looking up and nothing can change that. Except that Kale may be living next door to a killer, but is he, or is this all just his imagination?
Thus begins the "Rear Window" rip-off that should have been "Disturbia". But of course it isn't. Thanks to the cast, the script and the director, what we have in essence is a combination, in feel anyway, of the great John Cusack films of the eighties mixed with Hitchcock's eye for mood, imposed on the modern sensibility. You watch it and feel it shouldn't work, but thanks to Le Beouf's easy charm, and skilled abilities, honed from working years on children's TV, he carries the film in a way you would not expect to work, but it does. Sarah Roemer is easy eye candy for the young males in the audience and handles herself well enough, but aside from Le Beouf the other big star of the movie is David Morse, another old pro, pretty much like Le Beouf, who relishes the role he is given as the mysterious neighbour who keeps himself to himself but is there a reason why?
The director does a dynamite job of controlling the pace and the music moves the mood splendidly without you really noticing its there. The only downside to the film, and it is a minor one, is that you are always aware of the Hitchcock comparisons. You just can't shake that feeling.
That said don't let that minor niggle stop you from enjoying what is a great surprise package. I know I did! Nuff said.