Neighborhood Watch

The movie felt Fargoish which very entertaining. The characters were well defined and believable.

After Simon (who has issues with schizophrenia) reports to the police about the abuction of a women he witnessed. The police didn't take it seriously so he started his own investigation. He sought help from his retired and somewhat disgruntled neighbor. The investigation turned into a bit of comedy of errors but the end result was satifying.

The pair end up forming a bond that would never have happened if not for the abuction of the girl. It was heartfelt.

It is nice to see some great acting from lesser known stars. Kudos to the director, cast, and crew.

I highly recommend it.

If I would describe Neighborhood Watch as an overall movie in one word, it would be... regular? It's a very regular movie. But when done right, a regular movie can be highly enjoyable. This is the perfect example of that.

Jack Quaid gives possibly his best performance. He seems perfect for this role of someone suffering from severe mental illness. Jeffrey Dean Morgan also plays his role well. And their on screen chemistry and character dynamics are a big part of why this movie succeeds.

It also helps to have good writing. Several small parts end up coming into play later. Even if it doesn't have a major impact, these callbacks show that they care about making a good movie. And I was emotionally invested in the story and these characters.

(1 viewing, 4/26/2025)

A pleasant surprise. I thought it's going to be bad, but it was actually a good movie. Nothing major, I won't watch it 72 times in a row, won't think about it 10 years from now, won't keep recommending it to friends. But it did make for an evening well spent.

The story is not very complex, but it was interesting, and was fairly original. Most importantly the two leads did a great job. Their act felt very natural and authentic, their characters were likeable. I wasn't bored while watching, I rooted for them to succeed with their mission, and hoped for the one they were looking for to be found, and was surprised a few times, which is always a plus.

In general, I liked it, enjoyed it. It was not the movie of the century, but it was the right movie for last night.

Neighborhood Watch feels like a cinematic gem that often goes overlooked, and it's high time it receives the recognition it deserves. The film is crafted in a way that echoes the sharp, hard-boiled style of Dashiell Hammett, bringing a rich sense of atmosphere and intrigue to the screen. The narrative is centered around a small, seemingly ordinary neighborhood, but beneath the surface, there's a web of secrets and lies waiting to be unraveled. It's a brilliant exploration of suburban life tinged with crime and mystery.

The strength of Neighborhood Watch lies in its ability to tap into Hammett's signature noir style. Much like the author's novels, it's a story about flawed characters navigating a morally complex world. The protagonist, a well-meaning but disillusioned detective, finds himself drawn into a situation that reveals the darker side of his community. It's an intense, gripping ride from start to finish, with unexpected twists and a palpable tension that keeps viewers hooked.

What stands out most about the film is its atmosphere. The cinematography uses shadow and light in ways that evoke the classic noir films of the 1930s and '40s, creating a sense of constant unease. The screenplay is sharp and clever, with dialogue that crackles with a mix of sarcasm, bitterness, and wit-exactly what you'd expect from a Hammett-inspired piece.

The performances are stellar, with the lead actor giving a nuanced portrayal of a man torn between his own morality and the corruption he uncovers. The supporting cast also shines, adding depth to the world and helping to build an ensemble that feels both lived-in and mysterious.

While Neighborhood Watch might not have made as big a splash as it should have upon release, it deserves a much larger audience. It's a prime example of how classic noir sensibilities can still captivate modern viewers, blending old-school charm with contemporary storytelling. If you appreciate a good, twist-laden thriller with a touch of noir, this film is a must-watch. It's high time that Neighborhood Watch gets the attention it rightly deserves.

The film mostly worked for me because of the odd pairing of the rough and decisive ex-cop played by Ed Deerman (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) and the diminutive and tormented Simon McNally (Jack Quaid) who struggles with schizophrenia. The unlikely duo prove they have unexpectedly strong chemistry as they form an unlikely alliance to find a woman that Simon believes he may have seen being kidnapped.

The actual procedural aspects of Deerman and McNally's investigation are the weakest aspect here from my perspective. They sort of just wander around encountering violent criminals for most of the film's brief runtime. But there are elements to the film that we don't typically get in these types of films, so I will give it a pass for neglecting the procedural aspects somewhat.

I adored Duncan Skiles' previous film, the vastly underrated serial killer thriller The Clovehitch Killer, and he shows all the same strengths as a director here that he did in that film. The story never lacks a sense of purpose, and the sparkling interactions between its two leads keep the story rolling steadily forward to a satisfying if unmemorable conclusion. I think a couple frightening scenes and potentially a violent encounter at the film's conclusion might have helped to make this more well-rounded as a thriller.

The exploration of Simon's mental health struggles is quite well done and integrated effectively throughout. The film even puts the audience somewhat in Simon's situation where we're not entirely sure what's real and what isn't. We feel the effects of Simon's struggles in a similar way to how he does because we too are uncertain to what extent what we are seeing is real and how much we can trust our senses.

Deerman, while not as likable as Simon, has a nice character arc as he comes to respect Simon and rethink his dismissive treatment of him as a "nutjob." A third-act sequence in which Deerman helps Simon to cope with his paralyzing demons is well-acted and powerful to behold. Deerman is the kind of rogue cop with a heart-of-gold that we can't help finding lovable even if we shouldn't. Even if his methods are problematic, his unimpeachable desire to save an innocent young woman keeps the audience in his corner.

Visually, the film feels like a 70s period thriller due to the sepia-tinged cinematography. This is in spite of the fact that the characters use iPhones and other technology. But I think Skyles was perhaps emphasizing retro aspects intentionally to create a more old-fashioned noir feel. At any rate, this doesn't feel entirely like it's set in the present day even though it ostensibly is.

All in all, Neighborhood Watch may not break new ground as a crime thriller, but its emotional resonance and strong performances make it a quietly compelling film for genre stalwarts.