Unter Nachbarn

A storyline is pretty easy. You can predict absolutely everythink after 2 minutes. Motive is known and there is a lot of better psychological films than this. Maybe If You have problems with insomia that creature can help.

I saw this film at the Kino! festival at MoMa. I truly enjoyed this little masterpiece about two neighbors and their secret which sends them down a spiral of psychological obsession. Instead of relying on cheap tricks and scares, the narrative unfolds at a very somber tone which gives the film a very natural feel. Each of the characters is carefully crafted and feels real.

Especially the character of Robert could be straight out of a Hitchcock movie. Friendly in the beginning, his role soon takes a turn for the darker when things don't go as he planned and David tries to escape his grip. When forced into a corner this seemingly good neighbor becomes the protagonists worst nightmare. Disturbing images and a great direction complete the picture into a coherent whole. The director skillfully plays with the genre boundaries of drama and thus 'The Good Neighbor' keeps you in your seats from the very first minute to the unbearingly thrilling end.

After watching this film you really start to wonder which one of your own neighbors has a little bit of Robert within them.

Despite being European, this German thriller aligns more with the American school of cinema. It captivated me with its perfect pacing, allowing me to watch it as one would enjoy a cup of coffee, without needing to pay excessive attention to details or suspend disbelief too much. It is not, however, a simplistic film; the plot is interesting and atmospheric, and the dialogues, although simple, are not silly. The core of the story and the good performances make it a solid thriller. Perhaps it could have been better without the unnecessary additions that the director includes to please the producers who finance the work, but even so, it's a film worth checking out.