Any attempts at behavior justification detract from the minor trashy thrills to be had in “Lakeview Terrace.” It’s another “yuppies in terror” film, this time with a racial twist as reason for its existence.
Michael Keaton terrorized Matthew Modine and Melanie Griffith in “ Pacific Heights .” Same thing with Ray Liotta, Madeleine Stowe, and Kurt Russell in “Unlawful Entry.” Now “Lakeview Terrace” has strong-willed cop Samuel L. Jackson as interracial couple Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington’s Worst. Neighbor. Ever.
Abel Turner (Jackson) has a magical house. No matter what window he looks out of, he’s able to see his neighbors doing something that annoys him. Upon seeing them in their pool in flagrante delicto (am I using this correctly?), he widens his eyeballs in rage. Jackson must have practiced this acting maneuver in front of a mirror for about twenty seconds while reading other awful scripts; he uses it to signify lots of things in “Lakeview Terrace.” But mostly rage.
Abel’s wife died three years before the movie takes place—in a car wreck with her white boss. His daughter is beginning to show signs of rebellion. Somehow, these factors are supposed to contribute to his actions. In truth, he’s simply--and with the eye widening, unnervingly--psychotic. Any other explanation is a waste of time. Fast forward to the yelling and violence and noise.
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