Lakeview Terrace

  • Review Date: September 16, 2008
  • PG-13
  • Genre: Thriller
  • 2008
 Review

Common Sense Media says

Scary, racism-themed thriller isn't for kids.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Kids say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that the plot of this film -- which has very strong content for a PG-13 -- is driven by escalating violence, cruelty, and racism (much of it directed toward a racially mixed couple). A policeman is portrayed as unbalanced, aggressive, and threatening. Gunshots are fired out of and near an apartment where a husband holds his wife and baby hostage, and shoot-outs at close range result in the bloody deaths of two men. A policeman punches a suspect with a rifle, slaps his teen daughter in the face, and breaks the law to cover up his actions. Mildly sexual scenes involve a caring husband and wife kissing and hugging, with partial male nudity seen from the rear. There's also a fair amount of strong language (including "s--t" and "f--k"), smoking, and social drinking.

  • The plot revolves around an African-American man's subtle and overt prejudice toward a mixed-race couple. Constant references to racial stereotypes and a parody of African-American behavior and language mostly by seemingly self-deprecating African-American character. A police officer exhibits aggressive behavior, a hot temper, and racist sensibility.
  • Point-blank shooting of a conspirator by a policeman is followed by a bloody fall into a swimming pool; shots are fired through the door into an apartment with a woman and child inside; police officer with gun chases suspect; a man holds a gun to his own neck, threatening suicide; a policeman punches a suspect hard with rifle; a father slaps his teen daughter in the face with great force; attempted rape of the pregnant lead female character; final bloody chase and shootout includes fierce physical fight, car crash, and multiple direct bullet hits.
  • A married couple hugs and kisses lovingly in many scenes and engage in post-sex cuddling on one occasion; a man is glimpsed in the nude from behind; scantily dressed lap dancers perform briefly and try to entice men at a bachelor party; two children watch a married couple embracing and kissing in a swimming pool.
  • Frequent use of words like "s--t," "bitch," the many permutations of "ass," "hell," "bastard," and "dammit" occasional use of more intense cursing: "f--k," "p---y," "prick." One use of the "N" word.
  • U-Haul truck, RE/MAX Realty sign.
  • A lead character sneaks cigarettes and smokes in private. Social drinking in several scenes: neighborhood parties, wine with dinner, relaxing with a beer, drinking in moderation in a bar. Heavy drinking and drunkenness depicted at a bachelor party.

What's the story?

When racially mixed couple Lisa and Chris Mattson (Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson) arrive in their new suburban Los Angeles neighborhood, they're greeted with hostility by Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson), their African-American next-door neighbor. Rigid and seething with irra'ional latent anger, Abel -- a policeman who's raising two children by himself -- is the self-appointed marshal of Lakeview Terrace, and he's threatened by the Mattsons' Yuppie values, as well as the racial implications of their marriage. A series of confrontations heightens the antagonism and sets the neighbors against each other, escalating into a dangerous struggle -- all as a wildfire threatens to destroy the community.


Is it any good?

 

The early scenes of LAKEVIEW TERRACE are promising, with solid dialogue, a commanding performance by Jackson, and a thought-provoking twist that finds the super-bright African-American character portrayed as a bigot. Unfortunately, as the movie moves toward its formulaic, blood-spattered conclusion, these elements are misused, even exploited, to tell a routine story that's heavy with violence and too-obvious menace.

The filmmakers make a cursory effort to explain their villain's motives, but it's flimsy and comes too late. A subplot dealing with the marital problems aggravated by the young couple's predicament is well-intended but unoriginal and tedious. Director Neil LaBute is noted for his provocative filmmaking, but this is one of his lesser efforts.


Sign Up Message
Sign up for our weekly newsletter
Each week we send a customized newsletter to our parent and teen subscribers. Parents can customize their settings to receive recommendations and parent tips based on their kids’ ages. Teens receive a version just for them with the latest reviews and top picks for movies, video games, apps, music, books, and more.
Please enter an email address.
Please check your email address for possible typos.
Sorry, you must be 13 or older to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
Sign me up!

What families can talk about

Families can talk about how and why the filmmakers use racism to update the age-old story of feuding neighbors. Is this an effective choice? Why or why not? Is the movie trying to equate the danger of the advancing wildfires to the danger of the advancing personal racism? How do the climaxes of both events work together to resolve the story? What other issues come into play in the movie besides race?


This review was written by Renee Schonfeld
Teen, 15 years old
March 18, 2010
 
I think it was a good movie, but it has too many inappropriate things. Don't let your kids watch it.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
January 9, 2010
 
Ok, if you have the time to watch.
This was a ok movie. It does have some violence as in shooting and maybe so fist fighting. There is a scene at a bachelor's party, were i'm guessing strippers in very skimpy outfits dance very promiscuously on a man.

Flag as inappropriate 
Educator and Parent of 5, 10, and 14 year old
March 20, 2009
 
You Can't Trust Your Own Neighbors
I just rented this-- terrible plot and so evil. Did not leave me with a good feeling when it was over. Kids absolutely do NOT need to see this.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 17 years old
March 20, 2009
 
Worth A Rentel
this was a entertaining worth renting movie.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
January 28, 2009
 
Excellent movie
I liked it. It had quite the variety of language in there, and plenty of racism, but a VERY good film.

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
November 7, 2009
 
BAD FOR ANYONE!
Its just so disgusting see im 20 and i dont even watch cuase there is so much porn!

Flag as inappropriate 
Adult
October 24, 2009
 
okay 12 and up
has some funny parts and some good points but not worth buying 12 and over for violence and sex if you guys want to see a classic that Sam Jackson plays in with bruce willis go watch the movie die hard 3 with a vengence you'll love the movie

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 15 years old
May 5, 2009
 
Dramtic and Good!
It's a good movie. People say it has "strong content" and is too scary for children under 18, but I think a 12 year old like myself is old enough to know police officers aren't "bad" or "mean" like this one is portrayed in the movie. It's dramatic and at times a little scary, but if you like thrillers, there's no reason a 12 year old shouldn't see this.

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 16 years old
April 4, 2009
 

Flag as inappropriate 
Teen, 18 years old
February 13, 2009
 
Not the best Samuel L. Jackson movie
This movie has its fare share of action and sexual themes. Language is the same. You would think that for a samuel l. jackson movie there would be more action and violence but it is actually pretty limited. There are two f words and a lot of sh*s. The couple that lives next door to able is usually doing something sex related at night but no nudity is visible.

Flag as inappropriate 

This review was written by Renee Schonfeld
Studio:Screen Gems
Director:Neil LaBute
Cast:Kerry Washington, Patrick Wilson, Samuel L. Jackson
Genre:Thriller
Run time:110 minutes
Theatrical release date:September 18, 2008
DVD release date:January 27, 2009
MPAA rating:PG-13
MPAA explanation:intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references.

This review was written by Renee Schonfeld
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Video review


About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

 

vote now

Will you see Lakeview Terrace?


Already seen it? What do you think?

 

Been There? Tell us about it