Do NOT watch the trailer before watching the movie

Rating: 6/10 (17 August 2009)

Because it's a case of the trailer basically telling you the whole plot which is very bad especially in the case of a thriller. In case you didn't know, this is a remake with modern technological trappings (cell phone, hand-held camera, computer, etc) of an old 1954 Hitchcock thriller called Rear Window. I haven't seen the original so cannot compare. I found Disturbia to be a good little teen movie/suspense thriller, little in terms of scope and surprises. Yes for me, it was a bit predictable even though I didn't watch the trailer. The concept of the guy under house arrest spying on his neighbours to pass the time and potentially discovering something disturbing is somewhat interesting but didn't feel fully exploited. The first third of the movie is fun and is more like a teen movie about a boy being grounded all summer. It grounds the characters and the restricted setting.
Shia LaBeouf is very good playing an average ordinary joe as he usually is. The second third of the movie starts being more suspenseful as clues point towards one of the neighbours being a potential serial killer unless it's just the teen being paranoid (the french title of the film is Paranoiak btw). The third act I cannot speak about too much, unless to say the trailer reveals way too much. For a suspense, I cannot say I was ever truly afraid although I was surprised a couple of times. I fear Disturbia might have been slightly overrated because it was a surprise commercial success. Box office gross is unfortunately too often associated with movie quality. I did like Disturbia but I was underwhelmed. I would say it's worth a rental but not a purchase because I doubt you'd find it disturbing or intriguing enough to watch twice.
Rating: 6 out of 10