Lakeview Terrace (2008)

Director:

Neil LaBute

Writers (WGA):

David Loughery (screenplay) and
Howard Korder (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

19 September 2008 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

What could be safer than living next to a cop?

Plot:

An LAPD officer will stop at nothing to force out the interracial couple who just moved in next door.

Plot Keywords:

Lapd | Interracial Couple | Neighbor | Torment | Moving In

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Samuel L. Jackson	...	Abel Turner
Patrick Wilson	...	Chris Mattson
Kerry Washington	...	Lisa Mattson
Ron Glass	...	Harold Perreau
Justin Chambers	...	Donnie Eaton
Jay Hernandez	...	Javier Villareal
Regine Nehy	...	Celia Turner
Jaishon Fisher	...	Marcus Turner
Robert Pine	...	Captain Wentworth
Keith Loneker	...	Clarence Darlington
Caleeb Pinkett	...	Damon Richards
Robert Dahey	...	Jung Lee Pak
Ho-Jung	...	Sang Hee Pak
Bitsie Tulloch	...	Nadine
Michael Sean Tighe	...	Manager

Also Known As:

Harcelés (Canada: French title) (France) [fr]
Dum na spatné adrese (Czech Republic) [cs]
I parakolouthisi (Greece) (DVD title) [el]
La terrazza sul Lago (Italy) [it]
La terrazza sul Lago - La Casa dei Sogni, Un Vicino da Incubo (Italy) (video title) [it]
O Vizinho (Brazil) (DVD title) [pt]
Protegidos por su enemigo (Spain) [es]
Vecinos en la mira (Argentina) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references.

Runtime:

110 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital | SDDS

Certification:

UK:15 | Canada:13+ (Québec) | Canada:14A (Alberta/British Columbia/Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Philippines:PG-13 (MTRCB) | Australia:MA | South Korea:15 | Ireland:15A | USA:PG-13 (certificate #44057) | Denmark:15 | Malaysia:U | France:U | Finland:K-15 | Netherlands:12 | Mexico:B | Germany:12 | New Zealand:R16

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Overbrook Entertainment

Trivia:

At one point Abel jokingly asks Chris if he's a superhero. Patrick Wilson will go on and play one in Watchmen (2009).

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: When the fire is drawing near, Abel is hosing off his roof, which is made of tile.

Quotes:

Chris Mattson: Did you see anybody?
Abel Turner: No. I just see you.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Saturday Night Live: James Franco/Kings of Leon (#34.2)" (2008)

Soundtrack:

Hell Above Water

Remind me never to let Samuel L. Jackson borrow a cup of sugar from my place

Lakeview Terrace, what could have been a great thriller turned into a complete and total mess. I'm honestly surprised that this movie has the rating that it does, I'm trying not to insult anyone, just honestly, how could you take this seriously? It was so horribly written and I was actually looking forward to this film. My major problem was that the character development, there wasn't any, you go on this roller coaster ride where you think you might understand why Samuel L. Jackson's character is the way he is, but instead they go back into making you just brutally hate this guy. This is how beyond insane this movie is... Samuel L. Jackson goes from this stern, uptight guy to a bully, to a chainsaw maniac killer, to just plain psychotic, and honestly this guy is never given a solid reason why he turns this way, you're just left with five million questions and on of the worst endings I've ever seen.

Chris and Lisa, an inter-racial couple, the nicest couple you will ever meet, the couple you would love to be friends with finally got a home of their own in what seems like a very nice neighborhood... well, that is until they meet Able, their black widowed neighbor who also happens to be a police officer... who also happens to not approve of their relationship. From the get go Able is pretty much a rabid dog who threatens Chris off the bat saying to leave the neighborhood and that he doesn't like them. He just cannot be reasoned with, when Chris and Lisa have an unexpected surprise they were not ready for that gives their marriage a shake, Able isn't helping when he goes as far as to threatened their lives.

Honestly this is one of the worst films I have seen this fall season, it was beyond unrealistic and you have no compassion for some of the characters. Not to mention there is a constant rubbing in your face of the race issues, it's not just Samuel L. Jackson that doesn't approve of this relationship, all of the family and friends make some kind of disrespectful comment on it, I personally know 3 inter-racial couples and they don't receive that much hate or disapproval, it was hurtful on that level. I recommend you stay away from this movie, it's slow paced and the thrills are a let down. The story doesn't make much sense and I just found it to be pointless.

2/10