A bleak, pessimistic little thriller of a film, which failed to be a blockbuster but wowed audiences no less. A top notch cast, a clever story and oodles of suspense help to make this a much underrated gem of a film, much like the previous year's BREAKDOWN, with Kurt Russell.

The plot is a pure product of the '90s, following in the same government conspiracy steps as stuff like ENEMY OF THE STATE. Jeff Bridges, as the paranoid, wacko hero, bears more than a passing resemblance to the X-FILES' Fox Mulder, with both guys having their own conspiracy theories (and nobody believing them). The structure of the film is very good, with the first hour moving slowly and being the basic set-up, then the next half hour moving up a notch into a fast-moving race against the clock to find out the truth, until the last twenty minutes which turn into sheer adrenaline pumping horror.

The cast are all great in this film, with the acting honours going to Tim Robbins (THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION) who does a great portrayal of an apparently innocent man who turns out to be a terrorist and a murderer. Jeff Bridges is solid as the nutty, on the edge teacher whose theories grow more and more outlandish as time goes on, and we really feel for him by the time the credits roll. With able support from the two female leads helping to give the film a well-rounded feel in the acting stakes, as well as a realistic turn from the guy playing the FBI man, the acting really can't be faulted for this film.

It's the direction, though, which makes everything excellent. The plot twists and turns and little, unnoticeable things turn out to have major consequences. Thankfully, for a change we aren't always one step ahead of the main character, we too (as an audience) are surprised and shocked by the events which occur. There is also a commendably hard edge to the film too, with many 'good' characters dying, it's not often we see a young boy being graphically gunned down in cold blood.

There is little in the way of action until a top-notch car chase in the last twenty minutes, which is edge of the seat stuff, but then there doesn't need to be either. Disturbingly brilliant, this is a film which will make you think just who could be behind the door across the street. It left me feeling exhausted, disappointed and yet satisfied at the same time. The highest recommendation.

In Washington, Michael Faraday (Jeff Bridges) is coming home in the suburb and he sees the son of his neighbor, Brady Lang (Gamble Mason),burnt and wounded walking through the Arlington Road. He goes to the hospital with the child and befriends his neighbors Oliver Lang (Tim Robbins) and Cheryl Lang (Joan Cusack) that live in front of his house in the waiting room. The widower Michael is history professor at George Washington University, where he presently teaches terrorism, and raises his son Grant Faraday (Spencer Treat Clark) alone since the death is his beloved wife Leah. She was an FBI agent that died in action during an assignment with her partner Whit Carver (Robert Gossett). Now Michael is in a relationship with his former student Brooke Wolfe (Hope Davis). Soon Michael suspects of Oliver might be a terrorist initially based on a blueprint that his neighbor tells that it is a shopping mall but Michael believes it is a building and with returned correspondences in the mailbox. However his theory of conspiracy is rejected by Whit and Brooke. Michael becomes obsessed and investigates the life of his neighbor. Is Michael paranoid or is he correct in his suspicious?

"Arlington Road" is an excellent scary thriller with a well written screenplay. The outstanding cast is supported by excellent lines and a great story of obsession. The conclusion is not predictable and the film has not aged after these years. On the contrary, the theme is absolutely updated. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "O Suspeito da Rua Arlington" ("The Suspect from Arlington Road")

Michael Faraday (Jeff Bridges) finds a bloody kid walking in the middle of the road. He brings the nameless boy to the hospital. It turns out to be Oliver (Tim Robbins) and Cheryl Lang (Joan Cusack)'s child Brady. The Langs moved in two months ago and it's the first time Michael had talked to them. He teaches a course in American Terrorism at George Washington University. His FBI agent wife was killed leaving him alone with their son. He's dating Brooke Wolfe (Hope Davis). The Langs seems to be good people until he starts suspecting them of being terrorists.

There is a fictional past St Louis bombing as part of the story which is a thinly veiled reference to the Oklahoma bombing. It hits a little too close to the mark. It needs more differentiation to move away from the feel of ripped-from-the-headlines. The movie starts off slowly with the suburbia. It picks up a little bit of speed with some paranoia and darkness underneath. Bridges and Robbins do a pretty good job selling it. However it gets bog down with a lot of conspiracy theory investigation. The conspiracy is too big and way too complicated. It's also very annoying to have a stupid FBI agent. It's an easy cliché which adds nothing interesting. It would have been so much better to keep to the loner terrorist from everyday life. Doing the reverse is a fun exercise but not much more. The problem is that the filmmakers never ask why. It's a lot of convenient convoluted plot to do something that is questionable at best.