Lakeview Terrace

If you want a crime drama that treats its mystery as more than a puzzle, Lakeview Terrace is available in Australia on Netflix, and in the UK on Netflix right now. The runtime earns every minute, with nothing here that feels like padding. A 6/10 rating says what the writing already makes obvious: this one works. Samuel L. Jackson anchors it, but the writing does the real work. There is no real reason to keep putting it off — it is right there on Netflix.

Lakeview Terrace is not trying to be everything to everyone, and that focus is exactly what makes it work. The plotting in Lakeview Terrace is tight enough that the twists feel earned rather than assembled. A young interracial couple has just moved into their California dream home when they become the target of their next-door neighbor, who disapproves of their relationship. A tightly wound LAPD officer has appointed himself the watchdog of the neighborhood. His nightly foot patrols and overly watchful eyes bring comfort to some, but he becomes increasingly aggressive to the newlyweds. Samuel L. Jackson and Patrick Wilson lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was released in 2008. The plot mechanics of Lakeview Terrace never overwhelm the human cost underneath them. It knows exactly what it is, and does not try to be anything else.

Viewers who think they have seen every crime drama tend to find Lakeview Terrace proves them wrong. It stands on its own even without an obvious comparison point. Best experienced as a single, sustained watch from start to finish. Samuel L. Jackson anchors it, but the writing does the real work. If you are going to commit to one crime drama this month, make it this one.