You’ve got to hand it to land developers; they can slap a couple words together and make any subdivision sound serene and inviting. Who wouldn’t want to live in “Brookside Village,” “Stonebridge Manor” or, in this case, “Lakeview Terrace?” But here, the title hints at something more sinister than the materialistic underpinnings of suburbia. It’s no coincidence that “Lakeview Terrace” is also the name of the neighborhood in which Rodney King was beaten and arrested by L.A. police officers in 1991.

The movie opens on Abel Turner (Samuel L. Jackson), a stern single parent and veteran police officer, whose South Central beat is in sharp contrast to the Neighborhood Watch program he runs at home in the hills. New to the neighborhood are Chris and Lisa Mattson (Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington), who have bought the house next door. As an interracial couple, they immediately raise the ire of Turner, whose bigotry boils over with increasingly heated altercations. With every exchange, Chris and Lisa’s marriage seems to reveal another rift and, as their confrontations with Abel take a turn for the worse, the couple is driven to fight for their lives (so much for loving thy neighbor).

At its heart, “Lakeview Terrace” is a riveting suspense-thriller that in some ways reminded me of another one of Jackson’s projects, “Changing Lanes.” Both films show the nasty side of human nature and what people will do when the wrong buttons are pushed. But in the case of “Terrace,” instead of sharing the morning commute the characters share a property line, which gives the tension a more domestic, realistic feel.

But the screenwriters do the audience one better, offering a story that also realistically incorporates racism as an underlying theme that challenges our perceptions in a manner similar to the Oscar-winning “Crash.” As the evocative story plays out, it makes the viewer increasingly uncomfortable in ways that are difficult to explain without seeing the film for oneself.

Some might call it a trick or a cliché, but I appreciated the approaching wildfires as a foreshadowing of the escalating tension. If it’s obvious to some, it’s still handled carefully so as not to distract from the rest of the plot. After all, California is known for its wildfires (and, for that matter, the number of homes frequently threatened by them).

My hat’s off to the casting director as well who casts actors perfectly suited for their respective parts. Jackson, in particular, continues to impress as he shifts from one role to the next in chameleon-like fashion; it’s easy to forget that you’re watching SLJ at work. I imagine director Neil LaBute and the producers (Will Smith among them) also played a part in acquiring the dependable talent, so kudos to them as well.

In short, pick up “Lakeview Terrace” and you’ll get more than a glimpse inside some overpriced real estate. With the DVD, you’ll also get bonus features including imbedded deleted scenes, commentary featuring Neil Labute and Kerry Washington and a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes.