Disturbia

Reviewed by:
Pete Hammond

More than 50 years ago, the master of movie terror, Alfred Hitchcock, made Rear Window, a film about a wheelchair-bound man who tries to convince people he has witnessed a murder through the apartment building window across the street. Think of Disturbia, actually shot on the same Hollywood soundstage, as the "teen" Rear Window. Perhaps the ghost of Hitchcock was watching over the production, because this one really works. Disturbia is a scorching nail-biter of a movie that will have you jumping out of your seat more than once. In fact, after seeing this film, you may just want to board up your own windows. Shia LaBeouf, sensational in a breakthrough role, plays a troubled teen under house arrest, who, with the help of a buddy (Aaron Yoo) and his handy video camera, starts spying on the new neighbor next door, who he suspects could be a serial killer (an eerie David Morse). As his mother (Carrie-Anne Moss) and the cops monitoring his suburban incarceration ignore his suspicions, he becomes increasingly freaked out and begins to take action. The fun of the film is watching his slow paranoia overcome him, leading to unexpected consequences. As all this is taking place romance blooms with the attractive girl (Sarah Roemer) who soon becomes a key player in his homemade detective work. Ultimately this is a relentless, extremely well-played thriller that just might make you sweat as much as the guy behind those binoculars.