The Good Neighbor is a remake of director Stephan Rick’s 2011 film Unter Nachbarn. Those who watched this German film already know what to expect as much of the movie’s plot remains the same. The friendship between the two main characters feels like a feeble attempt at Hitchcock's Strangers on a Train.
The movie follows David (Luke Kleintak), who accepts a job in Latvia on the heels of a recent breakup, making the new posting feel like a chance to start over. He stays at his boss’ and old friend’s (Bruce Davison) rural house. Here, he asks for help from Robert (Jonathan Rhys Meyers), and an unlikely and extremely toxic friendship is formed.
On a night out, David meets a charming British girl (Ieva Florence) and takes her number, which seems to infuriate Robert. Later the same night, David runs over and kills the same girl on their way home.
Instead of doing the obvious thing and reporting the incident, Robert convinces David to hide the body and keep quiet about the accident. What follows is a predictable turn of events, with David growing more uneasy as time passes, especially as he gets assigned to cover the girl’s disappearance.
Unwisely, David forms a relationship with the dead girl’s sister, Vanessa (Eloise Smith), while working together on the case. Robert's reaction to the whole situation is volatile, causing him to take drastic actions.
The performance by Jonathan Rhys Meyers is quite impressive, giving more allure to the otherwise dull character. The Good Neighbor follows the same beats as similar movies before, leading to a somewhat expected ending.
The Good Neighbor can be an exciting watch for those interested in thrillers and dramas. The movie has violent themes, sometimes showing dead bodies, and is not the best fit for squeamish viewers. Overall, the film is okay, although it would have benefited from more tension and unexpected plot twists because it sadly under-delivers.
What subjects or college majors would benefit from the content covered in this film?
The Good Neighbor is more suitable for those looking to study the human character. It shows how different people react to tragedy and deal with guilt. It can help psychology majors examine the mental processes leading to Robert's actions.
What kind of film collection would this title be suitable for?
The Good Neighbor can cover film collections that explore multiple topics like the connections between friends and crime. The LGBTQ themes surrounding Robert and his feelings towards David can also be interesting for LGBTQ film collections.