Disturbia (film)
Info and Spoiler
Disturbia is a 2007 thriller film from DreamWorks Pictures, starring Shia LaBeouf as a depressed teen placed under house arrest who thinks he witnesses a murder while spying on his suspicious neighbor, believing he is a serial killer. The film is a loose and modern translation of the Alfred Hitchcock classic Rear Window.
Directed by D.J.
Caruso
Produced by Ashley Brucks
Jeremy Kramer
Jericho Jazz Herrera
Jackie
Marcus
Joe Medjuck
Tom Pollock
Ivan Reitman
Steven Spielberg
E.
Bennett Walsh
Written by Carl Ellsworth
Christopher B. Landon
Starring
Shia LaBeouf
Sarah Roemer
Carrie-Anne Moss
David Morse
Aaron Yoo
Amanda
Walsh
Music by Geoff Zanelli
Cinematography Rogier Stoffers
Editing
by Jim Page
Distributed by DreamWorks SKG/Paramount
Release date(s) April
13, 2007
Running time 104 minutes
Country United States
Language English
Spoiler
warning: Plot or ending details follow
The film starts out
with Kale (Shia LaBeouf) and his father on a fishing trip. As they drive home,
they get in a car accident, which results in a death of Kale's father. A year
later, Kale becomes enraged over his Spanish teacher's remarks about his father
and punches him in the face. As punishment, Kale is sentenced to three months
of house arrest.
Due to boredom, Kale becomes a voyeur and starts watching his neighbors with binoculars, especially the attractive girl next door, with his best friend Ronnie (Aaron Yoo). Kale also becomes increasingly friendly with his pretty new neighbor, Ashley (Sarah Roemer).
Kale hears a TV news report which states that the local police are looking for a serial killer who may be driving a blue 1960s Ford Mustang with a dented side and who may be from Austin, Texas. When Kale observes another neighbor, Robert Turner (David Morse), backing such a car into his garage, he becomes suspicious.
At first, both Ashley and Ronnie are skeptical, but gradually become involved in Kale's suspicions when they spy a female visitor at Turner's home who appears to be killed by him. The three arrange to break into his car, and eventually his house, in search of clues. Bothered by a interest in him, the suspected killer confronts Ashley in the parking lot of a mall, requesting respect for his privacy.
By the time Kale, Ashley and Ronnie have proof that he is a serial killer, they have placed themselves and Kale's mother, Julie in grave danger. When Julie goes over to Turner's house to convince him not to press charges against Kale for breaking and enterting, Turner attacks her. Turner then hits Ronnie with a baseball bat and ties Kale to a chair. However, with Ashley's help Kale escapes and goes to Turner's house to search for his mother. He finds her, and the two kill Turner in a struggle.
Afterwards, Kale is released from the rest of his time under house arrest for what is referred to as good behavior. The film ends with a scene that shows Kale, Ronnie, Ashley and Julie alive and well.
Reception
Disturbia opened at 1 in its
first week at the box office with $23 million and it stayed at 1 the following
two weeks with $13 and $9 million respectively. As of Sunday, May 20th, 2007,
the film has grossed over $71.5 million domestically and $9 million worldwide.
Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a "fresh" score of 67% and an average
rating of 6.3/10, stating that Disturbia is a "tense, subtle thriller with
a noteworthy performance from Shia LaBeouf". It is considered a financial
success with respect to its small production budget of $20 million and talk of
a sequel has already begun, however there have been no confirmed reports and none
of the cast have signed on.
Cast
Shia LaBeouf as Kale Brecht
Sarah
Roemer as Ashley
Aaron Yoo as Ronnie
David Morse as Robert Turner
Carrie-Anne
Moss as Julie Brecht
Jose Pablo Cantillo as Officer Gutierrez
Matt Craven
as Daniel Brecht
Viola Davis as Detective Parker
Kevin Quinn as Mr. Carlson
Elyse Mirto as Mrs. Carlson
Kent Shocknek as News Anchor 2
Rene Rivera
as Señor Gutierrez
Amanda Walsh as Psycho
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