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Unman Remake - The 'Next Disturbia' on the Way?

by Kevin Powers
October 16, 2008
Source: Bloody Disgusting

Disturbia was a surprisingly successful thriller that is probably my favorite Shia LaBeouf film to date (there aren't many). Instead of making a sequel - a path we all know profitable properties like to travel - director D.J. Caruso and LaBeouf went on to make Eagle Eye. And while a rumor has surfaced today via Bloody Disgusting that DreamWorks is eying their "next Disturbia," the potential project is by no means a sequel. Instead, the studio apparently wants to remake the 1971 Austrian thriller Unman, Wittering and Zigo. The film surrounds a 9th grade prep school class whose teacher is murdered. The new teacher that is brought in as a result begins to discover the class' secret - they were behind the murder.

Unman, Wittering and Zigo Poster Whenever you mix a group of adolescents and murder, I get all kinds of thoughts of the 1984 horror film Children of the Corn. Unman (as this remake will be called) doesn't seem like it will have that supernatural element, so it'll be interesting to see how the details play out - the rationale behind why an entire group of young adults would come together to commit murder. I haven't seen the original 1971 film, so I can't speak for how it was handled in that one. DreamWorks' reference to Disturbia is, I imagine, just optimism that this new film might have as similar success as the 2007 movie and not an allusion to any potential plot points. Although we can expect them to aim for a PG-13 rating with this to capitalize on younger audiences.

Concerning the plot, I'm not sure how American audiences would receive violence being committed in a school setting. Obviously, incidents at Virginia Tech and the like are very much different than this original story, but the there's enough there to make people uncomfortable. At least it sounds like an interesting project to follow for now. Will much of the original Unman be maintain in DreamWorks remake?

Explore tags: Movie News, Opinions

djw

It actually sounds like it could be good, provided they dont screw it up
ElectrocaineXxX

Sounds good or not... "The new teacher that is brought in as a result begins to discover the class' secret - they were behind the murder." ...let's hope they change the ending now!
http://movieguyreviews4u.blogspot.com Ryan

Sounds pretty good and I agree with you on the school violence point. Is Shia LaBeouf and Caruso on this though?
Silver

Sounds good so far, seems like it has potential. I hope Shia isn't on this though he plays the same boring character in every movie. There are a number of young actors that could be big if given the chance Shia-Steven-Spielberg's-Butt-Buddy-LaBeouf has been given. But enough rant sounds like it deserves a green light
TBone

I have not seen the original, but I think this sounds like a very interesting concept and am excited to see it play through. @4, Maybe one of the greatest actors of all time, one Harrison Ford, has backed Shia and said he is a great actor and is gonna sweep the nation by storm, which I would say has happened. Shia is an excellent actor and that is why he continues to get outstanding roles.
Bry from Chi

I only watched Disturbia because of Shia. I dig the kid. My fav movie is The Greatest Game Ever Played. The others are fine, but that was my fav. Oh well...I'll keep supportin' him. He's a way better than a WHOLE bunch of other nimrods out there. Shia, you go boy.