Dir. DJ Caruso, US, 2007, 105mins
Genre: Suspense / Thriller
Cast: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Ann-Moss, David Morse, Aaron Yu
Review by Matthew Rodgers
A stateside sleeper hit ($70m spondoolies) that remained at number one for an unprecedented three weeks earlier this year, even Spidey and Jack Sparrow couldn’t manage that, Disturbia arrives with a level of expectation that is only just met. It is a blatant re-working of Hitchcock’s Rear Window for Gen-X that is hauled from teen-thriller mediocrity by another impressive performance on the burgeoning CV of robot-dodger Shia LaBeouf.
Set in financer (via Dreamworks) Steven “the beard” Spielberg’s cinematic back-yard of Suburbia the film's template smacks of 80’s sensibilities. Dysfunctional family with an absent father and a young geeky protagonist whom upon discovering that the creepy neighbor (the under-rated, and off-th- radar David Morse) may or may not be murdering young women sets about saving the “burbs”, despite having the broken leg of James Stewart transferred to an ASBO induced ankle tag for assaulting a teacher.
There is no hiding from the appeal of this well constructed little thriller. It certainly isn’t the direction from DJ Caruso (Taking Lives) who forgoes replicating the superb multi-windowed technique of Hitchcock’s original for a more frantic formulaic fun house approach, perhaps sensible as the target audience may not have had the patience required. Mobile phones and webcam technology add an interesting spin to the plot but as with all thrillers/horrors they are lazy plot devices for an easy escape rather than an insight into how voyeuristic society has become with reality TV and CCTV monitoring our every move.
The enjoyment of this [sometimes] edge-of-your-seat thriller lies solely at the feet of LaBeouf, exuding all of the nervous likeability that helped to carry a summer juganaught he proves equally adept at holding your attention during this much smaller vehicle. There is rarely a scene in which he isn’t on-screen and it’s his presence coupled with the sporadic tension building that keeps Disturbia moving along at breakneck speed, thus papering over the more Nancy Drew aspects of proceedings.
Stand-out moments include the playful setting up of Kale’s 100ft enforced perimeter fence restricting his bumbling efforts to get the attention of foxy neigbour Ashley, and the graphic opening sequence that shakes you from your seat and adds much needed credence to LaBeouf’s character development.
Short to the point of never outstaying its welcome and with a broad enough appeal to capture a wide audience, Disturbia should become a Friday-night cinema success and an even better weekend rental.
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