“Lakeview Terrace” lies somewhere at the intersection of “Pacific Heights” and “Unlawful Entry.” It crosses the sadistic neighbor-from-hell concept with the power-tripping stalker-cop concept into an inconsequential genre film.
But though it runs too long, proceeds with wild contrivance and climaxes with one of those preposterously extreme showdowns, this tacky popcorn fare is decently acted and directed. And at least for about the first half-hour — before the proceedings begin to stray over-the-top — it dabbles in the race issue in an interesting way.
Indie director Neil LaBute made his mark exploring human hatred, especially in terms of sexual bigotry, in his movies “In the Company of Men” and “Your Friends and Neighbors.” Here, through a screenplay by David Loughery and Howard Korder, the evocative filmmaker takes a similar sort of creepy glee in exposing one man’s intolerance of the interracial couple who move in next door.
