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Harvey Karten's Reviews

Review: Disturbia

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#1 of 1 Posted 4/14/07 5:11 PM

From Harveycritic Posts 1632 Last Nov-2
To All [Msg # 22346.1 ]

    DISTURBIA

Reviewed by Harvey S. Karten
Paramount Pictures
Grade: C
Directed by:    D.J. Caruso
Written By: Christopher Landon, Carl Ellsworth
Cast:   Shia LaBeouf, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, Sarah Roemer, Aaron Yoo
Screened at: AMC Empire, NYC, 4/14/07
Opens: April 13, 2007

There’s not much about “Disturbia” to cheer about, but then again there’s not much to be disturbed about, and maybe the latter is the more worrisome criticism. The best thing about the movie is that it further confirms to those of us who live in large metropolitan areas that we made the right decision to stay put. If you believe the movie, there are more serial killers (viz. “In Cold Blood”) and sexual deviants (viz. “Little Children”) preying on people in the ‘burbs than in the cities. Somehow despite 9/11, we in the cities don’t have the paranoia that could envelope those in small communities, do we?

Director C.J. Caruso, who in making “Disturbia” borrows from Alfred Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” mainly to the extent that his hero watches sinister events occurring next door through binoculars, targets his film to a teen audience, filling his cast with young ‘uns, including a hyperactive Asian-American, Aaron Yoo in the Role of Ronnie; a lithe Sarah Roemer as Ashley; and in virtually every scene, a slim, soulful Shia LaBeouf as Kale. Photographed by Rogier Stoffers in a Southern California ‘burb, “Disturbia” has an opening scene that’s tops, but goes downhill from there.

As seventeen-year-old Kale and his dad bond on a fishing trip, they meet with a horrendous car accident, one of the most frightening on record, I’ll admit, resulting in dad’s death and Kale’s understandable depression. After Kale slugs his Spanish teacher–fully justified in my opinion (and I’m a former high-school teacher with a long career in the public schools)–he is sentenced to three months’ house arrest, wherein he gets to play with his binoculars and eventually, after a long getting-to-know-you period, with the new move-in neighbor, Ashley. What he sees about single neighbor Robert Turner (David Morse) does not please him. The man’s car fender is stained red. He has arguments with a girlfriend, and strangely does not keep his blinds closed. Curious, Kale treads beyond the boundaries of his house arrest, prompting his ankle bracelet to set off an alarm, bringing in Officer Gutierrez (Jose Pablo Cantillo), who unfortunately for Kale is the Spanish teacher’s cousin and does not take kindly to the lad. Curiosity killed the cat and may do likewise for Kale. Therein lies the suspense in this story.

What’s wrong with the movie? For one, any older members of the audience will be comparing Mr.LaBeouf to Jimmy Stewart. Enough said in that department. For another, after the terrifically photographed car crash, the entire mid-section is as bland as LaBeouf. Boy and girl play games and she plays “stranded,” having allegedly locked herself out of her house. They order pizza, they chat about what they see through the binoculars, but they’re just not an electrifying couple. For another, the horror/slasher finale suffers from the usual, generic quick editing, wherein we can scarcely see who is doing what to whom. The denouement that follows the predictable battle to the death is strictly formulaic, the sort of ending tacked that prompts the audience to leave just as it opens up.

Rated PG-13.    104 minutes   © 2007 by Harvey Karten Member: NY Film Critics Online

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Harvey Karten's Reviews

Review: Disturbia

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