DVD of the Week: Disturbia

This sleeper hit thriller, which basically amounts to a Rear Window ripoff for the iPod generation, was one of Spring's biggest surprises. Despite the dopey title and copycat premise, the film is actually a satisfying albeit somewhat predictable suspense flick that merges contemporary teen horror with old fashioned Hitchcockian flair. Burgeoning movie star Shia LaBeouf is 80s Cusack-esque as Kale, a juvenile delinquent outsider with a certain fast talking, finicky charm. He spots some shady business going on at a neighbor's house late one night and proceeds to spy on the creep across the street (played by David Morse) while hanging out with his best friend (Aaron Yoo) and the alluring new girl next door (Sarah Roemer). Count first time helmer D.J. Caruso as a talent to watch for in the future. He took what could have been (and quite possibly should have been) a major dud and turned it into a fun, filling treat. It's a feat not entirely unlike the breakout work of Disturbia producer Steven Spielberg who 30 years ago took the potentially disastrous creature feature Jaws and made it a classic.