From the box art and trailer to LAKEVIEW TERRACE you might just push it off as another bad cop, psycho neighbor movie similar to all the other ones that came before it. Sure, the premise of the film comes off that way in it’s promotions and trailers, but LAKEVIEW TERRACE has a whole other meaning in it’s storyline that involves more than just your run of the mill uneasiness and uncomfortable situations that our characters are being subject too. It’s a film that really takes to light the social issue of racism in a whole other aspect that many people never think about.
LAKEVIEW TERRACE star Samuel L. Jackson as a single father of two children who just so happens to be one tough ass over the top cop named Abel. His methods of parenting are strict and he does not want his kids giving into what the media deems all African-American children give into such as rap music and bad role models. The vacant house next store is about to have new owners. A white man named Chris (Patrick Wilson) and his African-American wife Lisa (Kerry Washington). The two of them are madly in love with one another, and are happy that they have found their new starter home in such a beautiful neighborhood. Abel, however being the nosy neighbor is not to happy with an interracial couple living next store. Chris and Lisa try to be as friendly as possible to all the neighbors, especially Abel and his family. the problem is that Abel has many methods that begin to become a problem for Chris and Lisa. Such things include late night parties with his cop buddies and giant flood lights that shine over onto their property. Chris kindly asks Abel to work with him on working out the problems. He does not want to be a pain to Abel, but Abel does not see it that way. Abel takes his anger and abuse to a whole other level and things progressively get more extreme and out of control as he makes targets out of Chris and Lisa in an attempt to make their lives a living hell and run them out of town.
I usually go into a review and go on and on and analyze every aspect of the films production from acting, the script and the production value and so on. But with this film I have so much to cover with it’s plot that I can honestly assure you that all the elements that make up this film, are all top notch. It’s look was a bit over polished and maybe some of the acting was a little sloppy here and there, but overall everything was exceptional well done.
Now; what makes LAKEVIEW TERRACE different from all the other psycho cop/neighbor movies? Well this film really dives deep into a social issue that many today either ignore or find socially unacceptable. That being the issue of interracial couples. It’s more common to see an African-American man with a while women, than it is to see a White man with an African-American women and that is the case with this film. We have an African-American police officer who has an issue with this interracial couple, but does not have any ill will towards any white people or other races. I bring this up because I noticed this misconception around the web on message boards about this film, that Samuel L. Jackson’s character is a racist, and the simple fact is that he is not. He just does not agree with interracial couples living in his neighborhood. He has plenty of White, Asian and Latino friends in the film. the problem the character has is that he feels that not only that people would be with a person of the same color or ethnic background, but he also seems to be ashamed by the way the black race is portrayed, and how people give into it. There is a scene in the film where he gets in the face of a young black guy who beat his girlfriend in front of his children. Abel threatens the kid and tells him to get his as together and take care of his girlfriend and his kid. He also lets a white gang member with that “gangster” attitude to give it up. the thing is this, the character of Abel is trying to better his race by force, but is doing so in the wrong way, where he is taking advantage of his job as police officer.
The thing with the character of Abel is that he’s really a guy who wants the world to be a better place. he wants kids to stop listening to gangster rap music and pick up a book and study. He wants them to speak properly and be respectful. the problem is that he himself may want to better everyone else, but he cannot better himself and his own insecurities. So pretty much this film is one big giant character study. Abel is a character that many can look at in this film, and relate too. He is a character that I can go on and on about paragraph after paragraph. But trust me folks you might see a lot of yourself in this character and not even notice it until you really sit down and think about this film.
The DVD does not have a lot of features but does have a few. There are three behind the scenes featurettes, Deleted Scenes with optional commentary, as well as director and cast commentary.
Overall, LAKEVIEW TERRACE is a film that not only has the thrills of shocks that make up a good thriller. But it also brings to light many social issues that make this more than just a film. I really have to give it to the writers of this movie, who really took the time and effort to not only conquer a tough social issue, but wrote a great character that is in my mind one that should be remembered in cinema history. In my opinion this is Samuel L. Jackson’s best role to date. LAKEVIEW TERRACE is a must see.
– Horror Bob
- Interview with J.R. Bookwalter - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Andrew J. Rausch - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Rick Popko and Dan West - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Director Stevan Mena (Malevolence) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Screenwriter Jeffery Reddick (Day of the Dead 2007) - January 22, 2015
- Teleconference interview with Mick Garris (Masters of Horror) - January 22, 2015
- A Day at the Morgue with Corri English (Unrest) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Writer/Director Nacho Cerda (The Abandoned, Aftermath) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actress Thora Birch (Dark Corners, The Hole, American Beauty) - January 22, 2015
- Interview with Actor Jason Behr, Plus Skinwalkers Press Coverage - January 22, 2015
