Samuel L. Jackson, Patrick Wilson, Kerry Washington

A young interracial couple move into their dream home and are increasingly harassed by their next-door neighbor, a tightly wound black LAPD officer. When the couple decides to fight back the feud turn...( read more  read more... )s deadly.

Flixster Users

46% liked it

25,260 ratings

Critics

47% liked it

149 critics

PG-13, 1 hr. 50 min.

Directed by: Neil LaBute

Release Date: September 19, 2008

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DVD Release Date: January 27, 2009

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Stats: 5,263 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (5,263)


  • October 3, 2009
    A good thriller about a black racist cop who happens to be the neighbour from hell for a young inter-racial couple. It's an enjoyable film and the tension between the two lead characters is good as the incidents between them escalate throughout the film. It reaches a predictable ...( read more)conclusion in a bit of a rush towards the end, but it's still a worthy watch.
  • September 27, 2009
    Lakeview Terrace became confused on whether it was a thriller or a social commentary. If the film had stayed more true to the thriller genre, it would have been much more interesting. The actors gave the film a good shot and it was nice to see Samuel Jackson do a bit more than ...( read more)phone in his performance. Overall, it is watchable, but the delve into social commentary and a poor ending lower it's score.
  • September 15, 2009
    Its nice to see a Lifetiime Originals script making it into the theaters.
  • August 3, 2009
    The hatred put forth by Jackson's character was sickening to me. I dont really feel there was a logical explanation for his actions. Although I suppose that type of person is beyond logic. He was horrible to the new interracial couple the entire film and he got what he deserve...( read more)d in my opinion. There is no place for people like that in a functioning society, especially when they also have special rights because they are cops.
  • July 23, 2009
    "You guys are lucky. You have a cop living next door."

    Samuel L. Jackson truly is something above the average. He's not the most talented actor in the business but there's something about him.. Without Jackson in the cast, I would never have seen this film. I've always enjoyed h...( read more)is work, not that I've seen each and every title from his filmography, and you could call him a so called scene stealer.

    Jackson plays Abel Turner, a rugged LAPD officer. When he's not on duty, he'll be doing some neighborhood watch instead. With his wife dead, he has two kids that he has to take care of. A married interracial couple moves to the house next door. From the start, Turner takes them as his targets, disapproving their lifestyle, thus trying to make their lives as miserable as possible. The confrontations will turn tragic in the end. Who will suffer more?

    This film lives and breathes Sam Jackson. Without him, this film would be just another average thriller that would be forgotten instantly. Jackson is a force of nature, giving one of the best performances I've seen him do in recent years. He gives a raw, full of emotion, performance that will surely please those who are fans of him. Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington, who play the harassed couple, give also good performances but the script doesn't give them that much to work on. It's all about Turner's character and the rage he lives with.

    'Lakeview Terrace' doesn't reinvent the genre or anything, in the end it is another predictable decent thriller. But the reason why this film should be seen is the powerful performance given by the baddest muthafucker out there. There's enough tension and, in overall, good realistic performances by the lead cast that make this film worth a look.
  • November 8, 2009
    A thriller about a racist cop who doesn't like his neighbout too much. Samuel has portrayed the character very well.
  • November 8, 2009
    One of the worst films I've seen in recent time. It wasn't bad cos of it's racist plot and all, but because nothing basically happened until the 90th goddamn minute. There was no built up, no suspense, nothing. How could this be called a thriller? It's a thematic family-issue dra...( read more)ma film, really, nothing much. You've all been misled, it ain't a thriller. OK, maybe I'll thrown in the crime genre.

    Btw, this reminded me of Disturbia, and it's not because of the voyeurism, but because they both start as a drama (Disturbia as a comedy mostly) and then at the end they go to to thriller borderline (same thing with Disturbia). What's up with these writers? Cos that's so annoying. STAY WITH ONE GENRE, PLEASE.

    I think thrillers are dead. Cos that's what they are these days: not even thrillers, turn out as horrors (Strangers and No Vacancy) or dramas and if they are thrillers then they're cliched, boring and dull. I missed the 90's thrillers. :(
  • November 1, 2009
    This movie was good but not as intense and drama filled as I thought the neighbor war would be in this movie. Samuel L. Jackson plays an over protective dad and cop going threw a break-down and taking it out on the new neighbors. He does take his neighbor fight to far. Overall th...( read more)is was a pretty good movie but it wasn't the type of movie I thought it would be. Could of been better. I give it 3 stars***.
  • October 18, 2009
    Mr. Abe Turner came second after Ned Flanders. Sure is hard to beat Ned.
  • October 18, 2009
    Something to watch if nothing else is on TV or you cant get to sleep

Critic Reviews


December 5, 2008
Nigel Andrews, The Financial Times

But this cop, played with wicked finesse by Jackson while the script allows, deserves the chance to strut his hour in the smoke-free sun. full review

November 20, 2008
Pete Hammond, Hollywood.com

This one literally burns up the screen in a blistering and explosive thriller that keeps you nervously on edge for two solid hours. full review

September 19, 2008
A.O. Scott, The New York Times

Considered purely as a formal exercise, Lakeview Terrace is a passable piece of hackwork, with some adequately suspenseful passages.

September 19, 2008
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

I find movies like this alive and provoking, and I'm exhilarated to have my thinking challenged at every step of the way. full review

September 19, 2008
Liam Lacey, Globe and Mail

In its second half, Lakeview Terrace runs out of steam, culminating in a flatly directed climax, complete with halos of police lights, whirling helicopters and declamatory dialogue. full review

September 18, 2008
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone

Lakeview Terrace is obvious when you most want it to be stealth. full review

September 18, 2008
Colin Covert, The Minneapolis Star Tribune

Slick, savvy and well executed, Lakeview Terrace is a typical studio release polished to a blinding sheen thanks to a superior cast and Neil LaBute, America's most dazzlingly gifted un-famous film dir... full review

September 18, 2008
Claudia Puig, USA Today

As social commentary, it doesn't go deeply enough, and as a psychological thriller, it peters out in silliness. full review

September 17, 2008
Armond White, The New York Press

It's important to clearly state that Jackson and LaBute's cynical routines in Lakeview Terrace offend human decency, but I'm brushing their dirt off my shoulder. full review

September 15, 2008
Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

It's a shame that the later stages of Lakeview Terrace should overheat and spill into silliness. full review

View more Lakeview Terrace reviews at RottenTomatoes.com

Comments


  • chetta574
    February 21, 2009
    i think it was a very good movie compared to the one in nomal play
  • suprabuddha
    October 1, 2008
    A searing psychological portrait of the toll racism takes on a black man. No doubt it made audiences squirm because the thought of a black male striking directly at the source of oppression instead of singing kumbayah is unbearable for most people.

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