An entertaining movie experience all around...thrilling, funny, and sweet

Rating: 8/10 (27 April 2007)

Disturbia was a big surprise for me, as I went in with low expectations because of the lead actor, Shia LaBeouf. I really underestimated his ability to be a leading actor in a thriller, as he more than carries the film with his character, Kale.
The movie revolves around rough around the edges teenager Kale, who is under house arrest following a mishap at school, which resulted from a life changing event. Being stuck inside all day, Kale gets bored easily, and soon finds entertainment in watching his neighbors: a bunch of young pranksters, an adulterous spouse, a man who keeps to himself (David Morse), and his newest neighbor, a beautiful girl named Ashley (Sarah Roemer). Like any teenage boy, Kale soon focuses his attention on her, and after the two finally meet, they realize that one of the neighbors may be hiding a deadly secret: he's a serial killer.
The acting in the film is really well done considering the fact that this is aimed at teenagers, and sometimes the acting falls in these kind of films. Shia LaBeouf does a great job of developing a likable character that the audience really identifies with. He balances the comedy and drama very well, as the film does have some laugh out loud funny moments. You'll be rooting for Kale the whole time, even though he's not the most perfect person in the world. Sarah Roemer also provides a unique character that may seem stereotypical at first, but becomes a lot more as Ashley and Kale interact. She is likable, and it's not just because she's drop dead gorgeous. David Morse delivers as always a chilling and mysterious performance that stands above the rest. He is one of the better villainous actors around, and this film only strengthens that claim. You'll never know where he's going to go next, which adds a lot to the suspense. The director, DJ Caruso, could have taken the character in a lot of directions, but I'm glad that Morse's character is how he is. It would have been very easy to make him the classic villain who is scary, yet we know what he is capable of. Due to the mystery provided by Caruso, Morse, and writer Carl Ellsworth, we get the most mysterious villain in a long time. Carrie Anne Moss also adds some nice moments as Kale's mother. I would have liked to see more of her character and how she deals with the personal tragedy in the beginning of the film, but I understand it because the film is about Kale.
Ellsworth also penned 2005's Red Eye, which Disturbia is eerily similar to. Both films have a villain who doesn't reveal his intentions at first. Both films have leading characters who have just endured personal tragedies. The main setting of both films is in one place (Red Eye was an airplane, Disturbia was Kale's house). The climaxes are similar as the lead character runs to another place to save someone they love. I almost lost faith in DJ Caruso after Two For the Money, but he did a great job with Disturbia, providing a great movie experience that you should watch in a group. Sit back, and relax as this film takes you through the funny, the scary, the thrilling, the heartbreaking, and the heartwarming emotions that make movies great. Due to some scary scenes and violent content, Disturbia isn't appropriate for those under age 12 or 13.
8/10 --spy