Never mind Tolstoy — all unhappy families are alike in Arie Posin's suburban-angst drama "The Chumscrubber." Set in the sort of middle-of-nowhere planned community that could be anywhere, the families in this film are staffed with ambitious, well-meaning but neglectful parents, all blind to the problems suffered by their anxiety-ridden offspring. Mothers wander their perfectly appointed homes carrying glasses of wine and wearing outfits that often feature pearls and aprons, like lonely Stepford wives. Teenage children lurk in their rooms, popping pills and contemplating misery.

This isn't remotely fresh territory for film (you'd think "American Beauty" would have put the suburbia genre to bed for a while), and it's to Posin's credit that "The Chumscrubber" contains some surprises. The story, written by Zac Stanford, takes a few unexpected twists, and Posin proves himself a talent to watch in his debut feature. It's beautifully cast, well-acted and nicely paced — you never quite know where the film is going, despite the familiarity of the material.

Movie review

Showtimes and trailer

"The Chumscrubber," with Jamie Bell, Camilla Belle, Justin Chatwin, Glenn Close, Ralph Fiennes, John Heard, Allison Janney, Carrie-Anne Moss, Lou Taylor Pucci, Rita Wilson. Directed by Arie Posin, from a screenplay by Zac Stanford. 108 minutes. Rated R for language, violent content, drug material and some sexuality. Several theaters.

Nonetheless, it's hard to work up a lot of enthusiasm for "The Chumscrubber" as anything other than a signpost on a career that will undoubtedly include better things.

Despite a few touches of humor, the film is rather a grim sit. The sameness of the characters, particularly the parents, grows wearying; they babble on about top-tier schools and their own successes, rarely letting humanity peek through. And a few too many of the characters are dead-eyed and dazed, which makes sense in context but doesn't give an audience much to hold on to.

Though it ultimately doesn't hold together, "The Chumscrubber" (the name comes from a suburbia-destroying video game that the kids play religiously) registers in some vivid moments contributed by its gifted cast. Glenn Close, as a mother mourning her lost son, has a terrifying little scene in which she lets out a devastating, silent scream. Ralph Fiennes, as the town's benign mayor, has an unexpected sweetness. Allison Janney brings a touching awkwardness to the role of a not-quite-perfect mom. And Jamie Bell (the now-grown-up hero of "Billy Elliot"), as the central character, is screwed down as tightly as the cap on a pill bottle; in keeping his character's misery carefully contained, he makes it all the more poignant. Watch "The Chumscrubber" for its cast, if for no other reason — but keep an eye on Posin, now that he's got suburbia out of his system.

Moira Macdonald: 206-464-2725 or mmacdonald@seattletimes.com