Rear Window Redux
Written: Apr 13 '07 (Updated Apr 14 '07)
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Pros: fun suspenseful psychological thriller
Cons: a tad predictable.
The Bottom Line: Great suspenseful fun film
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| shopaholic_man's Full Review: Disturbia |
As a kid I saw James Stewart in the Hitchcock classic Rear Window. Stewart confined to his room with a broken leg believes that he saw a man kill his wife.
Step into today, and the story is delightfully updated and retold in a surprisingly fresh and suspenseful way. My son and I caught this film to a sold out crowd this Friday when it opened and we both gave it four stars!
Kale (Shia LaBeouf) is a troubled young man after the tragic death of his father. He lives alone with his mother (Carrie Anne Moss The Matrix, Memento) and after one run in too many with the law ends up in home confinement with a special ankle bracelet that beeps if he leaves home. After his mother turns off his X-Box live subscription and his Itunes, Kale grows rapidly bored, and begins to look outside for thrills. His hot new neighbor Ashley (Sarah Roemer The Grudge 2) catches his eye as well as the comings and goings of the rest of suburbia. Soon his best friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo) and his neighbor Ashley are all watching the antics of one neighbor in particular, Mr. Turner (David Morse 16 Blocks, Dancer in the Dark).
Seems with too much time on their hands and a long summer, the three have decided that Mr. Turner is a serial killer that has been in the news, and start to follow him around.
Is it harmless paranoia? Or is Mr. Turner actually a serial killer? Fear not, if you saw the original Rear Window, this film has been updated enough to make it thoroughly enjoyable. It only reminded me of the classic Hitchcock film because of the basic underlying plot.
***plot spoiler for someone not seeing any trailers***
Regretably, if you have seen the trailer, you already know that Mr. Turner is not exactly Mr. Innocent, I do wish the trailers hadn't given away so much of the movie. The only complaint Nick and I had was that we found some of the movie predictable****end spoilers ***
This movie was good popcorn munching fun! The audience shrieked and oohed and aahed as the suspense built around the possible nefarious activities of their suspicious neighbor. There were plenty of tense moments. On the other hand, the movie isn't loaded with gore, although there were a few scenes that were CSI worthy. A fun love story thrown in with Kale and Ashley was also fun to watch, and had nothing in it that made me sorry that I brought my 11 year old son to see the film. We both jumped to the edge of our seats a few times, and some of the ending scenes brought cheers and clapping from the audience. Even with the edge of your seat psychological elements, there was plenty of humor to keep the movie light entertainment.
Acting The three kids in the film, Shia LaBeaouf, Sarah Roemer and Aaron Yoo brought the perfect mix of teenage rebellion and the innocence of youth to the movie. They were not stupid cardboard characters of some horror films, but likeable kids. The characters were developed just enough to make you interested in them. Trinity, err, Carrie Anne Moss looked great, even though she was playing a strict Mom here, trying to keep her son out of trouble.
The real star of the show was David Morse though. I've seen him play good guys and bad guys, and I must say, he plays bad guys better! He has the right amount of charm and underlying malevolence to be truly frightening.
Direction This film was directed by D.J. Caruso. I liked his style with this film, he captured the suspense and paranoia of the original Hitchcock film Rear Window and made it fun and fresh for today. I have only seen one of his previous films, the oustanding and moving The Salton Sea. I don't think he will win any awards here, but he presents a very watchable piece of summer entertainment.
Rating This film is PG-13. There are some scenes a little on the creepy side, but nothing you wouldn't see on C.S.I. This is a film about a possible serial killer, so some images of victims of a serial killer are shown that would be disturbing to younger children. Although there is a romance between two characters and a bit of implied nudity and voyerism, there is no actual nudity, and no sex, suggested or otherwise (although there is some kissing). There are moments of peril, and there is a car crash scene that is shocking and disturbing. No gore is shown, nor is there swearing or drug use.
Summary This was a fun suspenseful thriller. It had just the right amount of suspense to keep you glued to the screen without resorting to gore. LaBeouf as Kale was an engaging lead character, and Morse made a terrific bad guy. Both Nick and I gave Disturbia Four Stars!
Recommended:
Yes
Movie Mood: Scary Movie
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