Neighborhood Watch

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)

This is actually pretty good. Two misfits get together for a common cause. One is a washed up ("never was") security guard, and the other has been in a mental institution for a decade. They are each motivated by their demons to save a victim of human trafficking. There is a good blend of humor and tension and suspense. The mental health aspect is also very well done. The acting is solid. Parts of this are simplistic and predictable, but the movie moves at a good pace and keeps the viewer's attention. Not sure what to make of the axe-wielding granny, nor what's really going on with the antagonist (whom we don't really see). Fun and entertaining.

There are elements of this film that really shine. Overall, I liked it. There are a few spots I'd normally nitpick on but Jack Quaids performance (at least to me) was great. I also think Jeffrey Dean Morgan could have done more with his role but the script hampered his performance. Still, he made the most of what was given to him.

The movie is executed well in terms of direction, lighting, cinematography and sound, but the dialogue was wooden at times - the director should have realized that and listened to his actors. This didn't happen often but when it does, you notice it.

Ultimately, it's about a retired cop and a person with mental health issues working out a friendship between them. That is possibly the most appealing aspect of this movie. You'd think it'd be minor thing. But Morgan and Quaid pulled it off!

Came to watch it for the two main stars not knowing too much about the plot but stayed because of how the film was executed.

The chemistry between the two main characters is great even though at first they had nothing in common (although I wouldn't mind if they had fleshed it out a little bit more).

The plot is easy to follow and had a couple of nice quirks that I liked.

Almost every scene in the movie has a purpose and nothing is spoon fed to the viewer.

The ending was very rewarding and I liked the fact that the world the movie took place in was so down to the ground.

And the hand sanitiser gag had me chuckle more than I'd like to admit.

Good stuff.

Wholesome movie.

Give it a try :)

8/10.

I kind of love this movie. It's a slow-burn, but it knows what it's about. It reminds me most of the great (if rather more substantial) film Cutter's Way from the seventies, in terms of characters who, somewhat despite themselves, are drawn in to the obsessive pursuit of justice, whatever the cost.

The two main leads are really good. Not perfect perhaps, but convincing in the roles they play. Quaid does a solid job as Simon, a haunted, self-doubting psychotic, who, whatever his personal demons, knows exactly what he must do, when duty calls, even if he doesn't know quite how to do it.

Cue Jeffery Dean Morgan's maverick ex-campus security 'director' who reluctantly gets drawn into Simon's to find a kidnapped girl.

It's mostly low key, but really works, and there are some nice set-ups and pay offs.

I watched this and felt oh so very slightly better about the world by the time the credits started rolling.

I don't want to suggest this is going to rock your world - it won't - but at the same time I wish there were more films like this.