Movie Review: The Burbs (1989)

★★★★★

It felt like hearing from a friend who totally gets why weird, offbeat movies matter. Now I want to rewatch it!

Daniel R.

Wisconsin

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The Burbs

1989

Let me tell you about a movie that has lived rent-free in my mind since I first saw it late one summer night The ’Burbs (1989). Directed by Joe Dante (Gremlins, Matinee) and starring Tom Hanks in one of his most underrated comedic roles, this film isn’t just a cult classic it’s a dark, satirical, oddly comforting ride through the paranoia and absurdity of suburban life. And today at BoxReview.com, I want to take a look beyond the usual plot summaries and dive into the deeper, weirder brilliance that makes this film a favorite for those who love their comedy with a touch of chaos.

The Setup: When Quiet Streets Get Loud

The premise is deceptively simple: Ray Peterson (Tom Hanks) is taking a staycation in his idyllic suburban neighborhood, hoping for a little R&R. But peace and quiet quickly give way to suspicion when the reclusive new neighbors the Klopeks move in next door. Ray and his band of nosy neighbors (played hilariously by Bruce Dern, Rick Ducommun, and Corey Feldman) become convinced something sinister is going on behind those creepy walls.

That’s the surface-level Burbs summary you’ll find just about everywhere. But what makes this film so enduring, and frankly, so rewatchable, is the way it plays with tone, genre, and paranoia. It’s not just a comedy, it’s not quite a horror, and it definitely isn’t your typical Tom Hanks vehicle. It exists in a genre-less bubble somewhere between satire and fever dream.

A Masterclass in Controlled Chaos

What really makes The ’Burbs shine is its tonal tightrope walk. Joe Dante creates a world that feels just grounded enough to be familiar, but just surreal enough to keep you guessing. It’s a movie where dogs drag around human bones, neighbors break into each other’s homes, and no one ever seems to call the police. And somehow, it all works.

Dante’s background in creature features and horror comedies lends the movie an edge that most suburban comedies lack. You feel like something truly disturbing might happen at any moment, but then it’s undercut with slapstick or dry, observational humor. It keeps you on your toes and that’s not easy to do in a movie that never leaves the cul-de-sac.

The Sound and Score Nobody Talks About

Let’s take a second to talk about the sound design and score, because this is one of those areas that often gets glossed over. Composer Jerry Goldsmith (known for Alien and The Omen) turns in a quirky, ominous score that is equal parts mystery and mischief. The score subtly mirrors Ray’s descent into obsession, often blurring the line between real and imagined tension. There are whimsical themes, eerie flourishes, and even a bit of gothic horror flavor something you rarely see paired with Hanks in a Hawaiian shirt.

The sound cues work almost like another character in the film. Every creak of a door, every far-off chainsaw, every thunderclap is precisely timed to enhance the humor or add to the building paranoia. It’s the kind of detail that gets better on a second or third watch.

Suburban Satire: A Look Beneath the Lawn

While most reviews focus on the humor and the oddball antics, The ’Burbs is also a clever bit of social commentary. The movie pokes fun at the insular, suspicious nature of suburban communities. Everyone smiles and waves during the day, but as soon as someone breaks the norm even just a little they’re labeled a threat. Sound familiar?

Ray’s journey isn’t just about figuring out if the Klopeks are killers it’s about confronting his own discontent. He’s bored, disillusioned, and itching for something to shake up his routine. That makes The ’Burbs strangely relevant even decades later, especially for anyone who has ever stared out their window wondering what the heck their neighbors are really up to.

It also raises a sly question: who’s crazier the creepy outsiders or the “normal” people slowly unraveling under the weight of their own imaginations?

The Performances: Hanks, Dern, and a Show-Stealing Feldman

Tom Hanks is, unsurprisingly, the glue holding this movie together. But what’s cool is that The ’Burbs gives him space to play with physical comedy, wild expressions, and slow-building neurosis. This isn’t the buttoned-up Hanks of Philadelphia or Bridge of Spies this is the goofy, lovable Hanks from Big, just with a little more edge.

Bruce Dern is absolutely unhinged as Rumsfield, the overly patriotic ex-military neighbor who treats street surveillance like a war game. And Corey Feldman? He’s the stoned teenager who just wants to watch the whole thing unravel from his front porch and honestly, his commentary might mirror exactly what you’re thinking as the movie gets weirder.

A Movie That Gets Better with Age

Here’s something most movie review websites don’t talk about: The ’Burbs plays differently depending on your age. Watch it in your teens, and it’s a goofy, absurd comedy about weird neighbors. Watch it in your 30s or 40s, and it starts to feel like a sharp reflection of modern suburbia the boredom, the suspicion, the need to find meaning in the mundane. It’s still funny, but the edge cuts deeper.

Even after all these years, The ’Burbs holds up thanks to its timeless themes, weirdly perfect pacing, and one of the best third acts in dark comedy history. And yes, the ending is a trip. No spoilers, but let’s just say the movie plays one last trick that flips the entire story on its head in the final minutes.

Final Thoughts from BoxReview.com

At Box Review, we love spotlighting the movies that slipped through the cracks or got overlooked for being “too weird” or “not commercial enough.” The ’Burbs is exactly that kind of film. It’s the kind of movie you throw on expecting a few laughs, and walk away thinking, “Wait, that was kind of brilliant.”

It’s weird, wild, and just a little unhinged kind of like suburban life itself. If you’re looking for a film that’s funny, clever, and doesn’t play by the rules, The ’Burbs is a must-watch. And once you’ve seen it, don’t be surprised if you start looking a little more closely at the house down the street with the overgrown lawn and the blackout curtains.

You know the one.

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The Burbs

1989