Hey folks, Harry here... I recently had a chance to check out DISTURBIA by D.J. Caruso for Dreamworks. When I got contacted about seeing the film early - for consideration to do some sort of "event" with - I wasn't very interested. A friend who had read the script was very down on the film, but I figured what the hell I'd see because of D.J. Caruso's involvement - his career had been spotty, but I was a very big fan of THE SALTON SEA.

About a week before I got to see it, I finally saw the trailer... and I was dreading seeing the film. The trailer seems to sell the film as just a "teenage REAR WINDOW" and I didn't think that was very interesting at all. Add to that I didn't know much about the cast besides Carrie Anne Moss and David Morse - both of whom I like - but knowing this was supposed to a Teenage REAR WINDOW - I knew they'd have smaller parts.

Father Geek was absolutely hating on the film in advance - mainly due to the title. Then I watched the film.

It is a surprising film. Not in it's premise, nor really in the twists. What works? The acting and the execution. This is the first time that I've really really liked Shia LaBeouf in a film. And Sarah Roemer as the "girl next door" was just perfect. Not sexy in the whip it out way, but in that... "God, I wish she had lived next door to me," kinda way - that teenage crushes work. She just has it. She's amazing on camera, natural and fun. She absolutely is that teenage girlfriend that you wish you had had. Like Grace Kelly in REAR WINDOW - where Grace was the ideal note perfect MARRY ME adult performance... Sarah Roemer's Ashley is the adolescent version of that... the very girly girl with just the right dash of tomboy and adventurousness that you dream of. She'd help you to trap the serial killing next door neighbor from Austin, Tx. (yes, Austin, Tx).

Because she and Shia work, the whole film ends up working and becoming more than just a teenage REAR WINDOW. David Morse is absolutely as creepy as Morse can be. And the House Arrest ankle bracelet is handled not perfectly. You feel the cabin fever growing.

ANYWAY

Immediately after Tim League and I saw the film - we knew we wanted to do something special with the film - and with SXSW coming up - we talked with SXSW programmer of the gods, Matt Dentler to see if he'd be interested in having us present the film at SXSW. He was absolutely on board.

This isn't played goofy, it's played as a thriller and as something scary - and there's a reason why Spielberg had this as a pet fave at Dreamworks. It's surprisingly entertaining and involving - even as I had my doubts being wiped away - scene by scene.

SO

Friday, March 9th at Alamo Drafthouse (downtown) at 7pm - on the Opening Night of SXSW we'll be presenting the film. Then afterwards it looks like we'll be hosting one helluva party. At the very least D.J. Caruso is coming in, and he might be bringing some special guests along too. So if you got your SXSW badge, I hope to see ya there. This one isn't to be missed!