Good Neighbours

There is the story and there is the characters. And let me tell you, it must be the first time, weirdness has been depicted in such a funny and intriguing and honest way. I loved all those characters, who while seems similar had different agendas. I can tell you that although I was appalled by the female lead, I also was in love with her.

Quirkiness and mayhem, you can find everything that you won't find in a big budget movie. Exceptionally cast and smartly played (Scott Speedman almost playing against type) this was one of my highlights of last year. Of course this will not appeal to everyone, being about people who essentially are anything but normal. But if you have a heart for good independent movies and like your story to not be predictable (safe one obvious twist maybe), you will cherish and love this one as I do/did!

It's October 1995 Montreal. There is a serial killer out on the loose. Victor (Jay Baruchel) is moving into a 4th floor walkup. His neighbours are cat lady Louise (Emily Hampshire) and wheelchair bound Spencer (Scott Speedman). Louise is working at a local Chinese restaurant where waitress Johanne (Kaniehtiio Horn) is killed one night in the streets. Victor walks Louise home from the restaurant every night. Spencer turns out to be able to walk and somebody poisons Louise's cat.

Director Jacob Tierney is able to get an offbeat eerie vibe sort of like 'Shallow Grave' except nothing so cool and thrilling. It's a serial killer thriller that lives on its atmosphere for the most part. Baruchel is quirky cute. Hampshire is a quirky adoring cat lady. Speedman is good as Spencer hiding a secret. The three of them form a very compelling trio. The movie does need more tension. It would probably help to condense the timeline. It's good creepy throughout with an underlining low key dark humor.

This is not a bad movie. Yet it got rated pretty low. And there is a reason for that. This movie won't be for everyone. Good Neighbours is pretty conventional. The characters however are not. They are socially awkward which does not help the movie. Especially when you see these characters do things that make them even more unlikable. Talk about disturbing. My problem with it was that it was too much one sided. We people are much more complicated and it would have added some depth to the characters and the movie if they balanced the characters at least a bit.So are you wasting your time with this movie. Not immediately. I would reserve it for a rainy day or a Sunday when nothing else is on. This is not a thriller,nor is it a black comedy. It is in between. For animal lovers,there are three extremely cute cats that almost steal the show.

I saw this film recently partly based on the other review above. I did not agree with the general thrust of that review and so I've contributed one based on my own impressions. As a whodunit the culprit was fairly obvious taking away any possibility of plot tension. The general lack of action, drama (or blood) was actually disappointing.

The film did not hit any low notes to be fair and was watchable enough but it failed to hit any high ones (for me) either.It was well professionally acted and with workmanlike direction, the scenes were well shot including the slightly unpleasant one alluded to in the previous review but the only emotional connect I felt with the film was some twinges of embarrassment at a couple of points. Sunday evening filler.

It reminds many thrillers, crime and dark comedies. And it does well that. Proposing a simple story, good actors, few spices and a serial killer, young people, cats, fish tanks, some Hitchcock, Woody Allen and Tarantino, few drops of "Delicious" and a fine end. A real nice film. And, not less, a smart one.

The basic problem can be the status of salad. In some measure, too much ingredients.