While most of America rushed to see the third installment of a certain comic book character’s movie, I decided to check out the number two movie in the country, “Disturbia.” “Disturbia,” directed by C.J. Caruso, contains a large dose of voyeurism in suburbia. Hitchcock’s “Rear Window “sets the template for this particular genre. While “Disturbia” doesn’t break the mold, it stays true to the thriller formula, so why fix what’s not broken?
Shia LaBeouf plays Kale Brecht, a high school student who is sentenced to three months of house arrest after punching one of his teachers. In order to pass the time, Kale begins looking to his windows to provide entertainment. He observes and eventually memorizes his neighbors’ daily routines and habits. Through the window he watches his new neighbor, Ashley (Sarah Roemer) and also starts to become suspicious of another neighbor, Mr. Turner (David Morse).
With the help of his friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo), and his budding romantic relationship with Ashley, they discover some circumstantial evidence to suggest that Mr. Turner is connected with a local kidnapping. Despite the trio’s attempt to keep the spying secret, one day Mr. Turner acknowledges their interest in him and this is where the film not only becomes interesting but also intense.
In a film that is so formulaic, themes are obvious. Paranoia in confined spaces such as a house or even the suburbs, isolationism and of course voyeurism are evident. Although the skeleton of the plot line was obvious, “Disturbia” did deliver some arm-rest clinching moments. Morse portrays Mr. Turner in a sinister and chilling way. He is emotionless yet severely disturbed.
Besides the intense moments, Carrie Ann Moss plays the secondary “mom” role with sincerity and displays just enough of the concerned parent demeanor without nagging to much. Although La Beouf plays a teenager, he only brings professionalism to the screen. He projects a rather impressive take on a boy who only has coping with his father’s death and the results of his actions to occupy his time; as well as trying to convince a justice system that already distrusts him that his neighbor is a murderer.
The only problem I had with the film was the overt sexual references. I’m guessing that swimming pool scenes and porn snippets were an attempt to present a sleek motif to the film but in reality it all fell flat. Also, Roemer’s “sexy girl next door act” failed to add to any sort of seductive illusion and at times seemed very forced.
Other than the sexy mark failing to be obtained, the film is one of the better attempts to thrill an audience in a couple of years.

Author