Lakeview Terrace (2008) Movie Review. Samuel L. Jackson is the the neighbor cop you want, if you are on his good side.

So what do you when a neighbor is threatening and harassing you? Some of us would try to handle it ourselves, but what happens when that doesn’t work out so well? You give in and call the cops, right? It’s about time you stopped being a stubborn horse’s romp. We have one problem though. Don’t worry; it’s just a small one. I’m sure it’s really nothing at all. There is something you should know about the neighbor you are having problems with. He kind of, sort of, well, definitely is the police. That sure changes things a bit.

Lakeview Terrace is a 2008 film about one LAPD officer, Samuel L. Jackson and his dislike for his new neighbors. Samuel L. Jackson is attempting to raise his to children by himself since his wife passed away almost three years before. As any of us would be in this situation, Jackson’s character Abel Turner, is struggling to move on after his spouse’s death. Without her in the picture, there is nobody to offset his dictatorship form of parenting and the kids are taking the brunt of it.

Abel turns his new hatred for life up to full speed when his new neighbors move next door. Abel instantly hates the new couple, the Mattsons, for one very simple reason Lisa is black and her husband Chris is not so black. Okay, so he is as white as a bag of marshmallows. Abel’s new mission in life is to make them pay for being together, and get them the heck out of his neighborhood.

The Mattsons know exactly how to take care of this situation, so there is nothing to worry about. They will kill him with kindness. Isn’t that what our mothers always said to do? Okay. That didn’t work out perfectly for them. That’s okay; on to plan B. Confront him. He is just looking to pick on somebody. Surely, when they stand their ground, he will just look for easier prey. Surprise, he didn’t back down. No problem there is a plan C. Call the cops! Wait a minute, what does Abel Turner do for a living again?

This wasn’t the greatest piece of work I’ve seen, but it was still entertaining enough to watch one time. I like the idea of this movie and the way the plot sets up. The problem that I have with this movie is that it could have been so much better, if there was more suspense throughout it. I just felt like that every time they built up to a moment, the suspense came to a standstill instead of slowly building to a climax. I will give it a 6.5 out of 10.