Lakeview Terrace is a chilling tale about the dangers of suburban life. Samuel L. Jackson plays Abel “Jordan” Turner, a single father struggling to raise two children in a world of moral corruption and bad grammar. When a newly married couple moves in next door to his house on Lakeview Circle, AJT doesn’t think much of it. But it’s not long before Tariq’s new neighbors are asking him to turn off his security lights (his only defense against the dangerous lowlifes that prowl Lakeview at night), parking illegally, having sex in front of his kids, entering his house, and generally threatening his safety, family, and way of life. As a police officer, Abdullah-Jamal begins to sense the danger posed by his new neighbors and their criminal lifestyle, but it may be too late for him to stop them from taking, WHAT EVER they want.
With its gripping cinematic style, crisp dialogue, and flawless acting, Lakeview Terrace paints a terrifying picture of a worst-case scenario of neighborhood relations. It seems there are several lessons to be learned from this film and its portrayal of Elijah’s ordeal:
– You can never trust your neighbors, no matter how young and vibrant they seem to be.
– Sometimes, when dealing with truly twisted minds, even being stubborn and annoying can’t save you.
– Only you can prevent forest fires.
– I’m the police; you have to do what I say.