Disturbia (2007)

John Chard May 23, 2020

★ 7/10

Oh my god, you've made the tower of Twinkie! Is that in a stalker's handbook somewhere? As the all mighty great and powerful Hollywood continued to mine "Hitchcock's" works for inspiration, they landed upon the idea of re-imaging "Rear Window" for a modern audience. Directed by D.J. Caruso, Disturbia actually turns out to be a solid suspense thriller. The first half of the pic is all jocular with hormonal character introductions that come with giggly slices of humour, and then there's the big shift to the thriller that most viewers were expecting, as the makers manage to pull it off with a great final act that is edge of the seat viewing. There's nothing new on offer here, the formula has been (and will for ever more be) done a zillion times, but the two fold splicing of genres works well and the makers aren't trying to fool anyone with their approach work. Cast are fine, Shia LaB…

Wuchak June 30, 2024

★ 5/10

**_Shia LaBeouf in a Rear Window-like thriller_** Five months shy of 18 years-old, a teen in suburbia (LaBeouf) finds himself under house arrest but, thankfully, an attractive new girl moves in next door (Sarah Roemer) to stir his interest. He starts to suspect that a neighbor might be a notorious serial killer (David Morse). Carrie-Anne Moss is on hand as his mother. "Disturbia" (2007) has a set-up similar to Hitchcock’s “Rear Window” and later imitations, such as “Fright Night” and “Abominable.” LaBeouf’s star was rising at the time and he’s fine as the everyman teen protagonist. Roemer’s star was also rising, but her career never panned out into anything significant. It’s perfectly fine as a psychological thriller with a one-dimensional milieu in the mold of “Rear Window” or “What Lies Beneath,” but never becomes anything more than that and is …

RalphRahal January 9, 2025

★ 8/10

Disturbia is a modern thriller that captures the essence of suspense through a clever blend of drama, tension, and relatable characters. The film introduces us to Kale, played by Shia LaBeouf, a teenager under house arrest who finds unexpected ways to pass the time. His curiosity about the lives of his neighbors quickly escalates into something far more gripping. The movie's strong setup in the first act establishes both the stakes and Kale's emotional depth, making the story feel grounded despite its escalating tension. David Morse's performance as a mysterious neighbor is one of the film's highlights, delivering an understated but chilling presence that keeps the audience guessing. The cast as a whole is well-chosen, with Sarah Roemer and Carrie-Anne Moss rounding out the ensemble in complementary roles. One of the more thought-provoking aspects of the film is how it toes the line b…