The ingredients for the new film "Disturbia" are pretty basic. Take a young rebel on house arrest, mix in one creepy and one overly attractive neighbor, a goofy sidekick and a pair of binoculars. Throw them in the oven, and in ninety minutes pops out a suspense thriller that's about as original as "Final Destination 3."
Starring up-and-comer Shia LaBeouf ("Bobby"), director D.J. Caruso ("Two for the Money") recycles plot points and filmmaking techniques from Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece "Rear Window." Only this time around, there are Ipods and laptops to distract the viewer from the silly fun Caruso decides to have with his protagonist, Kale (LaBeouf).
In a horrifying car crash, which opens the film, Kale loses his father. After his Spanish teacher makes a comment involving his recently deceased dad, Kale socks the teacher in the face. The troubled teen is promptly locked in his house for three months.
This fast paced, engaging opening gets the viewer involved, allowing some of the film's weaker scenes to go overlooked as it dulls down.
Caruso has made a career out of retreads. Whether it's his Tarantino-inspired debut "The Salton Sea," or his most recent "Wallstreet" wanna-be "Two for the Money," Caruso thrives on the past. However, the director's most recent display of "nostalgic repetition" is not without its own style. "Disturbia" is purposely shallow, replacing Hitchcock's emotional examination of "Window's" supporting players with surface level suspense and by-the-numbers comedy.
And while "Disturbia" never gets deeper than a pre-popped popcorn kernel, surface level is where it flourishes. David Morse ("16 Blocks") delivers a particularly menacing performance as Robert Turner, the neighbor with bloody window shades and really big knives sitting around his humble abode. Carrie Anne Moss ("Fido") does a good job playing Kale's strong-willed single mother, a stock Hollywood character.
Aaron Yoo ("Rocket Science") plays best friend Ronnie, giving the film most of it's comic relief, while Sarah Roemer's ("The Grudge 2") sole purpose is to wear bikinis and heat up the screen as Kale's love interest, Ashley, which she does quite well.
The film is essentially a star vehicle for La Beouf. With his lead role in this film, along with the upcoming "Transformers" and the animated "Surf's Up," studio execs are hoping the post-Disney young gun will be the next big thing.
To his credit, LaBeouf carries the movie on his back. Luckily for him, the load is pretty light. The kid's got charm, and he uses it to his fullest advantage. The only time an emotional depth is necessary is early in the film, when the fatherless Kale peers into his dad's old office room. The emotional filler quickly dissipates, however, because, dun dun dun...there's a killer next door!
As the film rolls into its second hour, the tone shifts from light-hearted to intense. Nearly every scene involves beating drums and vicious crescendos. Killers hide up against walls and behind doors, while heroes tiptoe nervously with household weapons in their grasp. It's packed with plenty of unoriginal suspense.
And yet, the audience never stopped screaming, never stopped caring. Maybe, in an age of "Hostel" and "The Hills Have Eyes," there's something new in retro- tension.
Replacing exploitative gore with genuine thrills may feel like a regression, but there's no denying the scares are well placed and carried out.
Although "Disturbia" doesn't have much to offer in the realm of innovation, it does an adequate job with what it sets out to do: send audiences on a shallow thrill ride with hot young stars.
