Domestic Disturbance (2001)

Director:

Harold Becker

Writers (WGA):

Lewis Colick (story) &
William S. Comanor (story) ...

Release Date:

2 November 2001 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Mystery | Thriller

Tagline:

He will do anything to protect his family.

Plot:

A divorced father discovers that his 12-year-old son's new stepfather is not what he made himself out to be.

Plot Keywords:

Stepfather | Witness Protection | Runaway Child | Wedding | Murder

Awards:

2 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Frank Morrison
James Lashly	...	Jason
Rebecca Tilney	...	Laurie
Debra Mooney	...	Theresa
Vince Vaughn	...	Rick Barnes
Teri Polo	...	Susan
Leland L. Jones	...	Coach Mark
Matt O'Leary	...	Danny Morrison
Ruben Santiago-Hudson	...	Sgt. Edgar Stevens
Susan Floyd	...	Diane
William Parry	...	Don Patterson
Suzanne Nystrom	...	Wedding Coordinator
George Christy	...	Wedding Photographer
Steve Buscemi	...	Ray Coleman
David Bridgewater	...	Priest

MPAA:

Rated PG-13 for violence, brief sexuality and language.

Runtime:

89 min | Argentina:90 min | Netherlands:92 min | Spain:91 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

DTS | Dolby Digital

Certification:

USA:PG-13 (certificate #38637) | Portugal:M/12 | Canada:14A | Canada:A (Ontario) | South Korea:15 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-15 | France:U | Germany:16 | Hong Kong:IIA | Hungary:16 | Netherlands:16 | Norway:15 | Peru:14 | Philippines:PG-13 | Singapore:PG | Spain:13 | UK:12 | USA:R (original rating) | Australia:M

Filming Locations:

Hampstead, North Carolina, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

Actors Vince Vaughn and Steve Buscemi and screenwriter Scott Rosenberg were involved in a barroom brawl at the Firebelly Lounge in Wilmington, North Carolina, during filming.

Goofs:

Continuity: Right before Rick's brainwashing, Danny went back into his bedroom and locked the door. After Rick's brainwashing, Rick opened the door without turning the lock.

Quotes:

Frank Morrison: [To Rick] You touch a little as a hair on my son's head, and I swear, as God as my witness, that'll be the last thing you'll ever do in this world.

Movie Connections:

References Rosemary's Baby (1968)

Soundtrack:

Two Sleepy People

I thought that this one was pretty good.

Frank Morrison (John Travolta) is a hard-working boat builder and devoted dad who is naturally wary of the new man (Vince Vaughn) in his ex-wife's (Teri Polo) life. His wariness turns into outright distrust when his son (Matt O'Leary) says that he saw this guy commit a murder. The problem is, nobody will believe the kid because he has a history of lying and getting into trouble. Frank becomes the only one who will believe the kid's story.

Enjoyable thriller is maybe a little bit better than most because it's actually mostly believable instead of contrived. It's a modest little movie, predictable as many thrillers are, but not unbearably so. It is also helped by genuinely good acting, especially by Travolta and Steve Buscemi, who plays the murdered man; refreshingly, Buscemi's character is not as quirky as others he's played before. Even O'Leary as the kid delivers an acceptable performance. The only thing that I had a problem with was that Polo looks a little too young to be playing the mother of a 12-year-old.

"Domestic Disturbance" is a good vehicle for Travolta and a good directorial effort for Harold Becker.

6/10