Susan Granger’s review of “DOMESTIC DISTURBANCE” (Paramount Pictures)
A provocative, new National Research Group poll finds that 60% of people over 35 don’t want to go out to see violence on the screen – which does not bode well for this taut, fast-paced suspense thriller. John Travolta stars as genial Frank Morrison, a struggling boat-builder whose ex-wife (Teri Polo) has just married Rick Barnes (Vince Vaughn), a wealthy businessman and celebrated newcomer in the seaside town of Southport, Maryland. Their troubled 12 year-old son Danny (Matt O’Leary) is none too happy with his stepfather but Danny’s rebellion turns into total terror when he inadvertently sees Rick brutally murder a mysterious man (Steve Buscemi) who unexpectedly turned up at the wedding and meticulously dispose of the body and all the evidence. Danny quickly reports what transpired to the police but no one believes him except his devoted dad. Now in desperate jeopardy, Danny finds himself at the mercy of a secretive, diabolical killer. While screenwriter Louis Colick (“Hardball”) delivers a conventional cautionary fable, director Harold Becker (“Sea of Love”) misses far too many cinematic opportunities to make this simple dysfunctional family saga into something more memorable, particularly in his staging of the pivotal confrontation between protagonist and antagonist. Cinematographer Michael Seresin, composer Mark Mancina and editor Peter Honess greatly contribute to the mood of mounting tension generated by John Travolta (“Swordfish”) and Vince Vaughn (“The Cell”). Young Matt O’Leary (“Frailty”) is convincing and Steve Buscemi (“Ghost World”) exudes his usual weird seediness. On the Granger Movie Gauge of 1 to 10, “Domestic Disturbance” is a scary 6. But if you want a truly terrifying paternal saga, rent “The Stepfather” (1987), starring Terry O’Quinn.
