El buen vecino

When two newly acquainted neighbours decide to go out for a drink together their lives change for ever when they knock a cyclist down on a quiet road on the way back from the club killing her instantly. Rather than do the right thing both men flee the scene. Worse is to follow when journalist David (the driver responsible) is assigned with the task of investigating his own crime, but he also starts seeing the victim's sister Vanessa whom is unaware of David's true identity...

There is quite a quirky dynamic between Robert and David which, at times, does make the film interesting. You can sense early on that Robert is a ticking time bomb whom it seems does not take rejection particularly well. On the other hand, David seems more of an average Joe who doesn't seem to possess any strange character traits; his only flaw perhaps is that he can be easily lead which is what puts him in the mess he ultimately ends up in.

Whilst it's clearly pivotal to the plot I have to admit to being less impressed with the film when Vanessa arrives on the scene. The bulk of the film revolves around her blossoming relationship with David; in all honesty David and Vanessa are both a tad bland and I would have preferred it if more focus would have been shifted on to both Robert (due to his more interesting persona) and the investigation surrounding the collision (which seems under-utilised). The only mildly intriguing aspect of their relationship is finding out when/if/how Vanessa discovers the truth, but for me it's not a good enough hook to keep me fully involved.

Thank goodness then for Jonathan Rhys Meyers whose creepy unhinged performance here is the highlight of the film. I did miss him when he wasn't on the screen as every other aspect of the story was a tad mundane. He transforms a rather unremarkable film in to something that is semi-watchable which is quite commendable.

The Good Neighbour is worth a look if there's nothing else on, but it's not something I would recommend making a big point of seeing.

This is a good little thriller. Jonathan Rhys Meyers certainly knows how to play someone unhinged. You can tell there is something bubbling underneath his surface. I like how the tension slowly rises until the finale. Also the area the movie is shot in is something else. I don't know how much was shot on a soundstage but Riga as a backdrop is certainly a welcome change up. As I said, it is a good little thriller that hopefully doesn't get overlooked.

Prepare to be drawn into a world of moral ambiguity and escalating tension in "The Good Neighbor." Luke Kleintank brings depth to the character of David, whose accidental actions set off a chain of events that spiral out of control. Vanessa's grief, portrayed by Eloise Smyth, adds an emotional anchor to the narrative. However, it's Jonathan Rhys Meyers' portrayal of Robert that steals the show - his portrayal of the seemingly perfect neighbor harboring sinister motives keeps you guessing at every turn. The conflict between David and Robert builds to a climax that's as chilling as it is riveting. This is a story of guilt, redemption, and the dark corners of human nature that will leave you deep in thought long after the credits roll.

Just watched this. A clever and increasingly sinister plot ruined because a significant amount of the content was spoken in Latvian - especially the closing dialogue!! We tried turning subtitles on but the subtitles were not that informative (might have been our broadcaster) - e.g "Woman speaking Latvian".

If you can understand Latvian and like crime dramas with twists, you'll probably like this. If you don't understand Latvian, you will miss out on some important (I assume!!) dialogue!!

Give this a watch it was so much better than i thought it would be. You think you have it sussed then something else happens. Worth watching.....................................................................................................................................