Parents' Guide to

Lakeview Terrace

By Renee Longstreet, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Scary, racism-themed thriller isn't for kids.

Movie PG-13 2008 110 minutes
Lakeview Terrace Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 3 parent reviews

mickeydwampole
mickeydwampole Adult
April 18, 2019
age 15+

Not for the Young Kiddies

It's a really good psychological thriller. You know the good feeling you get when you know a police officer lives in your neighborhood? The Mattsons felt that way until their badge wearing next-door neighbor starts to lose his grip and starts making their lives a living Hell.

This title has:

Too much violence
Too much sex
Too much swearing
Too much consumerism
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
4Spice
4Spice Adult
October 24, 2009
age 12+

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
See all 3 parent reviews

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?

Our review:
Parents say (3):
Kids say (8):

The early scenes of LAKEVIEW TERRACE are promising. There's 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.

Talk to Your Kids 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?

Movie Details

  • In theaters: September 18, 2008
  • On DVD or streaming: February 3, 2009
  • Cast: Kerry Washington, Patrick Wilson, Samuel L. Jackson
  • Director: Neil LaBute
  • Inclusion Information: Black actors
  • Studio: Screen Gems
  • Genre: Thriller
  • Run time: 110 minutes
  • MPAA rating: PG-13
  • MPAA explanation: intense thematic material, violence, sexuality, language and some drug references.
  • Last updated: February 27, 2023

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