Netflix fans told ‘don’t waste time’ with ‘off the rails’ thriller | Films | Entertainment

A recent Netflix addition has been criticised by audiences despite climbing to number seven on the platform’s top 10 film rankings.

Featuring Samuel L Jackson and first released in 2008, this action-packed thriller garnered unfavourable reviews despite its bold premise and impressive ensemble.

Hollywood heavyweight Jackson portrays disturbed LAPD officer Abel Turner in Lakeview Terrace, who becomes unstable when an interracial couple, Lisa and Chris (portrayed by Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson), relocate next door.

Self-appointed as his neighbourhood’s guardian, Abel starts harassing the newly-weds through subtle hostility and sly comments regarding their relationship.

Whilst the film’s controversial concept appears compelling, Lakeview Terrace failed to ignite upon its original theatrical run and currently holds a disappointing 44 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

General viewers proved even harsher, granting it merely 39 percent on the aggregation site.

One RT user confessed: “The writing is terrible. I turned it off with a hr to go, it was too phony and stupid i just couldn’t fake interest anymore.”

Another viewer condemned the production: “This is a pure example of ‘good actors don’t make a good film’, as everything else is way below mediocre.

“I can only recommend you to NOT watch this movie, it is a complete waste of time.”

Another viewer slammed the film’s poor delivery: “The movie is obviously a very deliberate provocation (and one that I would argue is completely legitimate) but the issue is that the movie gets sillier and sillier as it goes along. By the end it just goes completely off the rails which undermines the tension.”

Despite the criticism, the film has attracted plenty of supporters who insist it’s well worth viewing to form your own opinion.

One Rotten Tomatoes user branded it “a nail biting thriller that leaves you at the edge of your seat from start to finish! Also having a few laughs in the mix, it’s just brilliant!”

A perfect 10/10 IMDb review hailed it as “an excellent thriller that makes you want to keep watching” and commended Jackson’s portrayal.

They added: “Sam Jackson really makes you believe his character as he does an, as usual, awesome job in his role as a creepy cop. But as you watch the early moments of the movie, you will see that Abel has his own problems to deal with.

“This can be confusing as you really don’t know who to side with in the war but I promise that you will be glad that you watched it.”

And one final admirer of the movie dubbed it “a very entertaining and heart pounding movie”. They proceeded to characterise the film as “exhilarating” with an “edgy and intense” finale.

The cinema aficionado went so far as to assert that Jackson delivers his “best performance yet”. So, will you be adding this hard-hitting crime drama to your Netflix queue this week, or will you be steering clear of the thriller?

Lakeview Terrace is available to stream on Netflix.

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