“Lakeview Terrace” has a story that seems standard but adds a little different element that makes it intriguing and engaging. This film could’ve been a surprise hit for 2008, but director Neil LaBute and writers David Loughery and Howard Korder couldn’t think of how to end the film so they cop out for a cheap and disappointing ending.

Police officer Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson) raises his daughter and son by himself with the strictest of rules. He patrols the neighborhood every night and everyone on the block knows him. Entering the picture are his new neighbors, Chris and Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington).

From the get-go, we get the sense that Abel doesn’t like the idea of an interracial couple living across from him. He starts turning up the security lights directly into their bedroom, playing mind tricks on both Chris and Lisa so hopefully they turn on each other, and move out of the neighborhood.

In the first two acts of this film, LaBute does a great job showing the complexities of an interracial couple. Not everyone approves, whether it be a neighbor or someone in the family. We see the toll it takes out on not only Chris, but on Lisa as well.

He also captures the tension between the Mattson’s and Abel. They are both trying to up the ante on each other and it’s thrilling to see right until we get to the climax. LaBute is hoping that you’d be sucked into the film so much that there is no way that you’d question the plausibility and reasoning for such an ending. Man is he wrong.

Jackson is his bad self as Abel. We get to see the crazy side that we are accustomed to, whether it’s sneering at the Mattsons or giving a self-righteous monologue, Jackson is at home with this role. Wilson (“Little Children” and “Hard Candy”) goes toe to toe with Jackson and holds his ground. Hopefully, this will give audiences a chance to see how underrated this actor is. The only person that felt a bit overwhelmed is Washington. She’s OK as Lisa but she doesn’t reflect the intimidation or arrogance that Jackson and Wilson have.

This film certainly could’ve sneaked up on people and surprised them. Instead, LaBute takes a good premise and ends it on a bad note. It doesn’t change the overall feel of the film but it does leave one feeling cheated when they leave the theater.