Refreshing to have thrills without gore

Rating: 8/10 (15 April 2007)

Disturbia was a successful thriller, in that it had jolts. The plot was paint by numbers obvious - about everything you expect to have happen does- but the presentation got you jumping out of your seat. No gore, which disappointed my teen age son, who expected more of a horror movie than a conventional thriller.
The romantic subplot was distracting, but Sarah Roemer, a twentysomething ex model playing the teen hottie was ornamental, and it filled in the spaces between jolts. Personally, I thought Carrie Ann Moss as the Mom was hotter than Roemer.
Shia Lebeouf has enough charm to remain sympathetic as the hero despite being under house arrest. His twinkle in the eye makes the comic relief sparkle. He is a bit less convincing in the romantic lead side of things, and thus I have reservations about him being the next Tom Hanks, let alone the next Cary Grant. But being the next Jimmy Stewart would be just fine.