In the latest effort by Samuel L. Jackson, “Lakeview Terrace,” the actor plays Abel Turner, a terribly troubled, grieving widower who happens to be an extremely controlling and arrogant LAPD patrolman.

He also does not approve of races mingling under one roof.

Which is unfortunate for his new neighbors, a newly married interracial couple, Chris and Lisa Mattson, played by Patrick Wilson and Kerry Washington.

Jackson proves again that he can be menacing. He scares his co-workers, snitches, bosses, neighbors and children all with the same sarcastic tone.

He tries to control his teenage daughter and young son with an iron fist, strict rules and unwavering duty.

And in a somewhat passive but quite aggressive manner, he terrorizes his new neighbors in order to drive them out of their new digs.

As a fire roars in the hills of Los Angeles, the fear and pressure continues to simmer just below the surface. As the fire danger grows, so does the tension.

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But when the flames explode into an out-of-control inferno threatening the neighborhood, so does the battle between the antagonists, with deadly results.

All the clich/s are there — the white husband loves rap music, the wife does not, the wife wants children, the husband does not. The teenage daughter who will fight her father’s rule, the Berkeley graduate who drives a Prius and works for an environmentally-conscious grocery chain.

Aside from the cruel off-duty harassment from Officer Turner, his tightly wound persona is also addressed while he is on the job.

The screenplay by David Loughery and Howard Korder II is not strong, and there are few surprises in the direction by Neil LaBute.

There is one profanity-laced scene between Turner and a snitch that establishes an obvious connection to the plot, which is probably not appropriate for the PG-13 rating that the movie received.

Even in movies that are not well made or probably should not have been made, Jackson is fascinating to watch, as he is in “Lakeview Terrace.”

With any other actor in this role, the character probably would come off as just downright mean. But with Jackson, one feels a touch of sympathy and understanding for his demeanor. No one would agree with or be accepting of his actions, but can understand why he is the way he is.

Staff writer Brad Memberto can be reached at 737-1055 or by e-mail at bmemberto@santa mariatimes.com.

(3 stars out of 5.)