Civic Duty (R, 2007)

In this thriller, unemployed accountant Terry (Peter Krause) takes to heart all of the TV reports he hears about terrorist plots, Homeland Security Alert Levels, and keeping his eyes open for "suspicious" people. Newly unemployed, Terry is feeling increasingly angry, wretched, and worried when he spies a new neighbor -- Gabe Hassan (Khaled Abol Naga) -- moving in with few belongings. Suspecting the "Middle Eastern-looking guy" is a bad guy, he prowls the Internet in search of "Most Wanted" photos and follows Gabe around town. When Terry sort of-accidentally sneaks inside Gabe's apartment and finds beakers and tubes, he calls the FBI; Agent Hillary (Richard Schiff) tells him that he's paranoid. Still, Terry can't seem to help himself; his increasing irrationality upsets his wife so much that she leaves -- yet another sign to Terry that no one sees what he sees and that his perspective is special, acute, and right.

Jeff Renfroe employs the camera from Terry's perspective, peering through Terry's window at Gabe's door across the courtyard, framing close-ups at sharp angles and in deep, greenish-filtered shadows. When Terry at last confronts Gabe, the film lurches into a very tightly focused, essentially two-character standoff as they lob forceful, irate questions about revenge, righteousness, and morality at each other.

These questions are definitely complex and crucial: Would Terry want to avenge his own wife's death? How does ideology frame definitions of good and evil? But the film's subtler questions are just as pressing, as Terry becomes a product of both his personal situation and his broader cultural environment. Even when Terry thinks he's finally attaining self-control, the film suggests he's losing himself. To its credit, Civic Duty doesn't resolve this dilemma but instead leaves it to viewers' judgment -- keeping in mind that you're surrounded by the same media provocations that Terry is.

Studio: Freestyle Releasing
Director: Jeff Renfroe
Cast: Kari Matchett, Khaled Abol Naga, Peter Krause
Genre: Thriller
Run time: 94 minutes
Theatrical release: May 3, 2007
DVD release: October 2, 2007
MPAA Rating: R
MPAA explanation: language and some threatening situations.