Disturbia (2007) Movie Review

By Newguy

Disturbia – Movie Review

Director: D.J. Caruso

Writer: Christopher Landon, Carl Ellsworth (Screenplay)

Cast

Plot: When a teenager is placed under house arrest, he succumbs to despair and starts spying on his neighbors, hoping to spice up his life. This, however, leads him to witness a serial killer on the loose.

Runtime: 1 Hour 45 Minutes

There may be spoilers in the rest of the review

Story: Disturbia starts when Kale’s (LeBeouf) father tragically dies in an accident. One year later, Kale hasn’t recovered and gets provoked by a teacher causing him to be placed under house arrest. Kale must adapt to remaining in his home, with his already strained relationship with his mother and knowing one of the police officers Gutierrez (Cantillo) is waiting for him to mess up.

During his house arrest, Kale gets a new neighbor in Ashley (Roemer) and must learn to adapt to life without leaving his home. However, his spying on the neighbours sees him witness a neighbor commit a crime and he believes he lives next door to a serial killer. He must put his friends together to help solve the situation before the killer strikes again.

Verdict on Disturbia

Disturbia is a thriller following a teenager under house arrest who believes his neighbor is a serial killer. He teams up with his friends to investigate, but he can’t leave his home to learn the truth.

This movie is a modern retelling of the Hitchcock classic ‘Rear Window’. It does the same idea of someone trapped believing there is a murderer next door. However, this movie is filled with problematic issues. First, is why Kale never got any professional help after his father’s help and how a teacher is allowed to use his father’s death against him. Second, Kale’s behavior doesn’t help, he is messy, disrespectful and creepy by watching the neighbours. Finally, it lacks the tension the original had, trying to make everything feel like a fast forward no attention span concept. In the end, this lacks interesting characters and any tension to elevate it in any way.

Where to Watch

JustWatch

Final Thoughts Disturbia fails to grab the tension is desperately needs.