Samuel L. Jackson sinks his teeth into the villainous role of Abel Turner, a racist neighbor to Chris and Lisa, a bi-racial couple of newlyweds (played by Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson), in this Neil LaBute-directed suspense thriller.
Abel is a 28-year veteran LAPD cop, and the widowed father to a young son and daughter, living in an elite housing suburb that he patrols at night as an off-duty keeper of the peace.
But peacekeeping isn't Abel’s intention when Lisa and Chris move into the house next door. Just as he habitually abuses his own children, Abel takes particular satisfaction in intimidating the young couple with the intention of scarring them into selling their new home.
Abel’s increasing acts of sabotage are underscored by a raging wildfire that threatens all of the homes in the Lakeview Terrace cul de sac.
The screenwriters do a good job of layering a heavy sense of menace early on but paint themselves into a corner with artificial plot points that rob the movie of its thematic promise as a commentary on racism and fear.
Strong performances from its talented ensemble cast don’t compensate for its narrative flaw that derail in a mechanically formulaic third act.
(Screen Gems/Sony) Rated PG-13. 110 mins.
