Want to hear more from the actors and creators of your favorite shows and films? Subscribe to The Cinema Spot on YouTube for all of our upcoming interviews!
Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
Neighborhood Watch follows Simon McNally (Jack Quaid), a young man struggling with mental illness, after he witnesses the abduction of a young woman whom the police believe Simon hallucinated. Feeling distraught and left with no other options, Simon turns to his irritable retired college security guard, Ed Deerman (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), for help. Together, the unlikely duo begins unraveling the mystery while learning to overcome their differences.
Neighborhood Watch is directed by executive producer Duncan Skiles (The Clovehitch Killer) and written by executive producer Sean Farley. Jack Quaid (The Boys, Novocaine) and Jeffery Dean Morgan (Supernatural, The Walking Dead) star as Simon and Ed, respectively. The movie also features Malin Åkerman (Watchmen, The Final Girls) as Deedee, Simon’s sister, and Cecile Cubiló as Detective Glover (9-1-1, The Cleaning Lady).
Carried by its Cast
I often say a film is carried or saved by its cast because, a lot of the time, a movie is enjoyable if the actors are giving worthwhile performances. Neighborhood Watch is no exception. Here, Jack Quaid performs very similarly to his other roles. His character, Simon, is a down-on-his-luck, nice enough, shy guy. However, the actor gives Simon aggression and cynicism, which his other characters typically lack. It’s a natural extension of Quaid’s strengths as an actor.
Playing against Quaid is Jeffery Dean Morgan, whose character, Ed, is extremely irritable and cranky. He is really just looking for a place where he belongs in life. He has no family to speak of. No job. He’s just cruising through a mediocre retirement where he gambles in an attempt to fill the void in his life. Ed does feel like a certain kind of older retiree we each have all encountered at least once. They lash out at the world because they feel that it owes them in some way. It’s a good fit for Morgan.
Together, Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan make for a really fun pairing. They play off each other well, and their respective character issues lead to some really engaging viewing. You are never certain what the other will do next and how they will react. Plus, watching them slowly become endeared to each other is quite welcome. This is especially true when the world outside feels increasingly hostile and difficult to navigate. It’s a nice reminder that, underneath it all, everyone is just looking for a sense of connection and belonging.
Secondary Roles
In terms of supporting roles, there isn’t much to them. Akerman is a solid fit as Simon’s sister. She shows genuine concern and frustration with him, something all too real in sibling relationships when one sibling doesn’t fit the norm. Additionally, Cubiló works in her performance as Detective Glover. However, there isn’t really anything noteworthy about the character.
Themes of Neighborhood Watch
As for the story, it’s relatively straightforward. The two characters investigate the possible kidnapping of a woman after Simon reports and the police don’t believe him. Initially, Ed is only helping Simon out of a sense of duty and just the need for something to do, not necessarily because he believes him. The mystery is central but often takes a backseat to their relationship. The film always takes the time to show the little moments between them that build their relationship. It never loses sight of making sure you care about the two characters.
To add, Neighborhood Watch‘s larger themes of finding belonging are great. Almost all of the characters in the film are outcasts of society. They are left behind because they do not fit into conventional norms. Simon and Ed are left out and find belonging in each other. The girl they are searching for has been left behind and taken advantage of by bad-faith actors. The government will not save you; only your community and the people in it can save you.
Additional Thoughts on Neighborhood Watch
As for Farley’s script itself, the screenwriter does a fine job with it. All the dialogue between the characters feels natural and like something they would say to each other. The world has clear rules that it follows throughout. The only real critique of it is Simon’s mental illness. It’s never clear what exactly he suffers from, and the depiction of it can be questionable. However, the movie always makes sure to not romanticize his issues and that they don’t totally define him.
Another strong point of Neighborhood Watch is production designer Adam Pruitt, art director Sarah Rose Mouyal, et al’s set design. It’s all very simple, but it does make the world feel like a lived-in place. It’s dirty and worn, much like the characters who exist within it. One thing that does hold the film back somewhat is the pacing. For a ninety-minute film, it does feel a bit long, especially towards the end.
The Verdict on Neighborhood Watch
Neighborhood Watch is a simple but sufficiently effective mystery carried by two good performers. If you are craving something a little different from blockbusters or a lot of the typical fare in theaters, then Neighborhood Watch is worth seeking out.
Score: 3/5
Neighborhood Watch is now playing in theaters and on available on VOD services!
Be sure to check back with The Cinema Spot for more drama and mystery reviews! And check out our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Bluesky, and Letterboxd pages!
Sometimes I write things, but mostly I watch movies.
