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WhenLakeview Terracehit theatre in 2008 , many witness were struck by its unsettling portrayal of a Los Angeles constabulary policeman terrorizing his new neighbors — a seemingly uttermost fictional scenario . WhileLakeview Terracemight have been # 1 at the box officewhen it was released , what many do n’t recognize is that the moving picture was inspired by a chilling real - life type . Behind the Hollywood dramaturgy lie a disturbing rightful story of revilement of power , racial preconception , and the fearfulness that can run even in the most affluent , ostensibly dependable community .
While the flick require originative liberties , including raise the violence and turning the officeholder into an sick antagonist , the heart and soul of the narrative remains ground in world . veridical - life LAPD Officer Irsie Henry ’s action mirror many of the theme explored in the picture . But how much ofLakeview Terraceis base upon fact , and how much is exaggerated for the sake of storytelling ? No matter how you slit it , the film leave a revealing look at how veridical - sprightliness event can inspire and be reshape by Hollywood .
What Irsie Henry Did
He Allegedly Harassed His Neighbors Which Resulted In Court Convictions
Prolific actor Samuel L. Jacksonplays Officer Abel Turner inLakeview Terrace . The film ’s premise is broadly establish on the real - lifespan human relationship between Los Angeles law police officer Irsie Henry and an interracial couple , John and Mellaine Hamilton . In the film ’s story , the Hamiltons are called the Mattsons , and are impersonate by actors Kerry Washington and Patrick Wilson . Officer Henry and the Hamiltons were neighbors in Altadena , a center - class neighborhood in Los Angeles . Allegedly , Officer Henry , a sinister gentleman , was prejudiced against mixed - wash marriage like John and Mellaine ’s ( John is blanched and Mellaine is bleak ) . Due to his views , former Officer Henry reportedly decide to frustrate the Hamiltons .
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The issues between Officer Henry and the Hamilton can be trace back to 2001 , when a attribute line difference wrick into constant torment . Officer Henry was accused of blowing leaves into the Hamiltons ' G , making racial aspersion , and harassing the duo ’s children . He also allegedly tore down the tarps that the Hamiltons put outside their prop and threw fag bud onto the couple ’s lawn . Both parties receive trammel order , and the situation drag attention from local authorities and the media(viaThe Cinemaholic ) .
The most glaring incident between the former officeholder and the duo came in 2007 , during Henry ’s trial . In January 2007 , former Officer Henry was arrested outside the Pasadena courthouse after show the judicature a picture in which he sprayed pepper spray in John Hamilton ’s boldness during a verbal confrontation in the Hamiltons ' front yard . Apparently , Henry mean the tape would make him attend like the dupe . In the remnant , he was wrong . In 2008 , Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Coleman Swart found former Officer Henry shamefaced of two count of contempt of court for violating a restraining parliamentary procedure ( viaPasadena Weekly ) .
What Lakeview Terrace Gets Right About Officer Henry And The Hamiltons
Henry’s Tactics Against His Neighbors In The Movie Mirror Henry’s
Lakeview Terraceaccurately reflects the core matter ground on its real - life event : a police force officer provoke an mixed couplet who moved into his neighborhood . Like Henry , the fictional Officer Turner expend his authorization and insider noesis of the jurisprudence to restrain the couple under the pretext of enforcing community of interests monetary standard . The plastic film mirror Henry ’s material - lifespan tactic — unremitting surveillance , psychological pressure , and exploitation of his police force role — to portray how power can be weaponize in personal vendettas ( viaPasadena Weekly ) .
The film remains grounded in the excited true statement and social kinetics of the lawful fib , effectively using fable to highlight a disturbing real - world ill-usage of force and the challenges mixed couples can face up .
The real Hamiltons ' experience , check by fear and impuissance despite their effectual right , is echoed in the picture show ’s depiction of the duad ’s escalating conflict with Abel Turner . Lakeview Terracealso turn over into themes of internalized racism and control , which align with public interpretations of Henry ’s behavior . While dramatized for stress , the motion picture remains grounded in the emotional truths and social moral force of the true write up , effectively using fiction to spotlight a disturbing real - world maltreatment of power and the challenge mixed couples can face — even from those expected to uphold justice .
Where Lakeview Terrace Strays From The Real Story
There Was No Shootout & The Movie Couple Is Childfree
AlthoughLakeview Terraceeffectively get the broad strokes of the Irsie Henry case , it diverges from the real consequence in ways that compound drama at the disbursal of factual accuracy . The film portray Officer Abel Turner as a deeply unstable , fickle persona whose aggression step up to dangerous and red extremes , including arson and armed confrontation . There was n’t a gunfight between Henry and the Hamiltons in real life .
There are plenty of details thatLakeview Terracealters from the real - life story and the mass at its kernel . For example , the Hamiltons had a Logos and a girl , but in the moving-picture show , the couple is childfree . While this may seem like a minor detail , the couple ’s daughter was the topic of torture by Officer Henry . Altadena Sheriff ’s lieutenant speak to the Hamiltons ' 12 - yr - old daughter , who alleges that Officer Henry stood on his balcony and flicked his natural language at the child , copy unwritten sex ( viaPasadena Weekly ) .
While the photographic film does n’t need to include the couple ’s daughter for narration purpose , it would have been interesting to see how the dynamic between Officer Turner and a kid . Maybe forgather the couple ’s child would have cue him of his own tyke and added another bed to his character .
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However , the most blinding differenceLakeview Terracemakes from reality is Officer Turner ’s motivation behind torment the match . In the film , Officer Turner ’s action are based on rage and grief . Lakeview Terracesets up that Officer Turner is a new single founding father of two child after his married woman dies unexpectedly in a motorcar crash . It ’s quickly bring out that his wife was in the car with her chief , a white man , at the time of her destruction .
Turner by nature suspects an adulterous affair but go off the rails when he adjudicate to punish his boss ’s wife for her demise . In turn , he fuel his anger by terrorizing the Mattsons , specifically Steve Mattson , because he is white . In world , Henry ’s motive are less open .
How Samuel L. Jackson Felt About Portraying Turner
He Understood The Role
It ’s no hush-hush thatSamuel L. Jackson has no problem full engulf himself in a character . His function as Officer Abel Turner inLakeview Terraceis nuanced , with Jackson curating a sense of madness in the character that does n’t subside until the very end . Jackson clearly understood where Officer Turner was coming from because the grapheme is rooted in reality . In an consultation withPasadena Weekly , shortly after the plastic film occur out , Jackson discussed his character reference :
" A cop like this probably does take forethought of the neighborhood more than he harm it …. hoi polloi hear about bull in other area who might be corrupt on some level but are the only ones who can help when a huge problem goes down and someone dash 20 people . So mass will think of what a guy like this does for their neighborhoods rather than worrying about the cops ’ private biography and conflict . ”
Where Irsie Henry Is Now
He’s Keeping A Low Profile
Cast
