Prepare to be drawn into a world of moral ambiguity and escalating tension in "The Good Neighbor." Luke Kleintank brings depth to the character of David, whose accidental actions set off a chain of events that spiral out of control. Vanessa's grief, portrayed by Eloise Smyth, adds an emotional anchor to the narrative. However, it's Jonathan Rhys Meyers' portrayal of Robert that steals the show - his portrayal of the seemingly perfect neighbor harboring sinister motives keeps you guessing at every turn. The conflict between David and Robert builds to a climax that's as chilling as it is riveting. This is a story of guilt, redemption, and the dark corners of human nature that will leave you deep in thought long after the credits roll.
51 Reviews
If only we understood Latvian!!
martynspetts6 August 2022
Just watched this. A clever and increasingly sinister plot ruined because a significant amount of the content was spoken in Latvian - especially the closing dialogue!! We tried turning subtitles on but the subtitles were not that informative (might have been our broadcaster) - e.g "Woman speaking Latvian".
If you can understand Latvian and like crime dramas with twists, you'll probably like this. If you don't understand Latvian, you will miss out on some important (I assume!!) dialogue!!
If you can understand Latvian and like crime dramas with twists, you'll probably like this. If you don't understand Latvian, you will miss out on some important (I assume!!) dialogue!!
A nicely paced thriller...
paul_haakonsen18 June 2022
Sitting down to watch the 2021 thriller "The Good Neighbor" was because I had the opportunity to do so. I hadn't even heard about this movie from writer Ross Partridge and director Stephan Rick prior to watching it. But I will say that the movie's synopsis sounded interesting enough to catch my attention. And also the fact that the movie had Jonathan Rhys Meyers on the cast list helped to sweeten the deal.
The storyline in "The Good Neighbor" was good and well-written. Sure, it was somewhat generic at certain aspects and it was somewhat predictable, but it actually made for good entertainment. There was something 'old school thriller' about the way that the story was constructed and brought to life on the screen.
The acting performances in the movie were good, and lead actors Luke Kleintank and Jonathan Rhys Meyers were nicely cast for the leading roles. I was especially impressed with Jonathan Rhys Meyers' performance, because he was superbly cast for that particular role and he brought the characters to life in a very realistic and believable manner.
If you enjoy thrillers, then you definitely should give "The Good Neighbor" a chance, should you have the opportunity to watch it. I was genuinely surprised and entertained with this movie from director Stephan Rick. While the movie is entertaining and watchable, it hardly is a thriller that you will watch more than once, simply as the storyline doesn't have enough layers and contents to support more than a single viewing, as this first viewing leaves nothing else to be discovered.
The ending of the movie, now that was a slap to the face with a cold, dead face. I didn't enjoy that ending one bit.
My rating of "The Good Neighbor" lands on a six out of ten stars.
The storyline in "The Good Neighbor" was good and well-written. Sure, it was somewhat generic at certain aspects and it was somewhat predictable, but it actually made for good entertainment. There was something 'old school thriller' about the way that the story was constructed and brought to life on the screen.
The acting performances in the movie were good, and lead actors Luke Kleintank and Jonathan Rhys Meyers were nicely cast for the leading roles. I was especially impressed with Jonathan Rhys Meyers' performance, because he was superbly cast for that particular role and he brought the characters to life in a very realistic and believable manner.
If you enjoy thrillers, then you definitely should give "The Good Neighbor" a chance, should you have the opportunity to watch it. I was genuinely surprised and entertained with this movie from director Stephan Rick. While the movie is entertaining and watchable, it hardly is a thriller that you will watch more than once, simply as the storyline doesn't have enough layers and contents to support more than a single viewing, as this first viewing leaves nothing else to be discovered.
The ending of the movie, now that was a slap to the face with a cold, dead face. I didn't enjoy that ending one bit.
My rating of "The Good Neighbor" lands on a six out of ten stars.
Ok
gab-6759917 June 2022
Just ok, a bit long and very predictable. I myself LOVE Meyer as an actor but he just didn't mesh well with the other lead actor. His emotions and reaction at times were laughable because they felt so fake or unreal. I really only wanted to see this movie because he was in it but not that I have I wish I hadn't. Was it a good thriller? Yes, but nothing new or special. Good for a one time watch, MAYBE two, but that was it. Never found out why the girl was on her bike, on that road at night in the first place, but oh well.
Cover Up
jeroduptown22 June 2022
Rhys-Meyers is a really great neighbor, until he's not. When David moves to town to work in journalism, he accidentally kills a girl on a bike on the way home from the pub. Meyers single white females him and everything gets nuts.
not what i was expecting
watcher201919 June 2022
Give this a watch it was so much better than i thought it would be. You think you have it sussed then something else happens. Worth watching.....................................................................................................................................
Should have been a series
brettgriggs-6206222 June 2022
This script had the bones to be great series with more character development. But it got lost in a simple script that over looked character history. To many conincedences to connect the dots. Leads were ok but female detective was to interesting to give such little screen time. Alas..6 out of 10. Didn't wow me.
Beware of thy neighbor
anne-1362221 June 2022
Two neighbors strike up a friendship that quickly spirals out of control when an accident happens that changes both lives. This movie, while a little predictablble in the sense, that as a viewer you know that this friendship can't end well, is straight forward, and was well done. Johnathan Rhys Meyers definetly carries it, but the other actors are ok too. Pacing sometimes a little slow, but overall good.
Gripping thriller with intriguing antagonist
MartinHofmann22 August 2023
Stephan Rick's "The Good Neighbor" turns a quiet neighborhood into a heart-pounding thriller. Rhys-Meyers' portrayal of Robert amps up the tension, giving you those spine-tingling chills. As his character gets creepier by the minute, the movie keeps you guessing and gripping the edge of your seat.
The slow build of tension keeps you engaged, as you witness David's world unraveling in the face of Robert menace. The balance between the everyday and the eerie adds layers to the story, making it a thrilling exploration of psychological suspense.
If you're into psychological suspense and a great antagonist, this one's a must-watch.
The slow build of tension keeps you engaged, as you witness David's world unraveling in the face of Robert menace. The balance between the everyday and the eerie adds layers to the story, making it a thrilling exploration of psychological suspense.
If you're into psychological suspense and a great antagonist, this one's a must-watch.
suspend logic and its ok
wrigco29 July 2023
OK, well this is a psychological thriller, so you wouldn't have any "suspense" if there weren't any obvious huge holes in the plot and the characters' actions didn't have any logic to them, and the cops always followed up on glaring clues. The usual. The innocent are always clueless and the cops always pick the wrong guy anyway. The story stumbles along until a light comes on and the guilty party is exposed - or not - depending on the ending. This is one of those.
JRM is suitably creepy and verging on psychotic. But we don't really get his back story, it seemed rather thin. I mean, there were a lot of murders in a what seemed to be a small expat community.
Everyone was adequate I thought, but I struggled to get the sub-titles to work so all the Latvian chit chat with the cops etc was lost to me.
Still, it wasn't dreadful, I watched to the end.
I did, however, think the ending was crap.
JRM is suitably creepy and verging on psychotic. But we don't really get his back story, it seemed rather thin. I mean, there were a lot of murders in a what seemed to be a small expat community.
Everyone was adequate I thought, but I struggled to get the sub-titles to work so all the Latvian chit chat with the cops etc was lost to me.
Still, it wasn't dreadful, I watched to the end.
I did, however, think the ending was crap.
A Thrilling Story About Guilt and Second Chances
mangosteen5524 August 2023
So, "The Good Neighbor" is one intense ride. You've got David, played by Luke Kleintank, dealing with some heavy guilt after accidentally causing the death of Vanessa's sister. Eloise Smyth as Vanessa really tugs at your heartstrings. But here's the kicker - Jonathan Rhys Meyers as Robert is like the perfect villain, giving you chills with his manipulative vibes. That conflict between David and Robert is like the heartbeat of the movie. It's all about redemption, secrets, and how far these characters will go. Trust me, the tension and twists are real, making it a must-watch if you're into those psychological rollercoasters.
Great performance from Jonathan Rhys Meyers, but only an average film overall
jimbo-53-18651113 August 2022
When two newly acquainted neighbours decide to go out for a drink together their lives change for ever when they knock a cyclist down on a quiet road on the way back from the club killing her instantly. Rather than do the right thing both men flee the scene. Worse is to follow when journalist David (the driver responsible) is assigned with the task of investigating his own crime, but he also starts seeing the victim's sister Vanessa whom is unaware of David's true identity...
There is quite a quirky dynamic between Robert and David which, at times, does make the film interesting. You can sense early on that Robert is a ticking time bomb whom it seems does not take rejection particularly well. On the other hand, David seems more of an average Joe who doesn't seem to possess any strange character traits; his only flaw perhaps is that he can be easily lead which is what puts him in the mess he ultimately ends up in.
Whilst it's clearly pivotal to the plot I have to admit to being less impressed with the film when Vanessa arrives on the scene. The bulk of the film revolves around her blossoming relationship with David; in all honesty David and Vanessa are both a tad bland and I would have preferred it if more focus would have been shifted on to both Robert (due to his more interesting persona) and the investigation surrounding the collision (which seems under-utilised). The only mildly intriguing aspect of their relationship is finding out when/if/how Vanessa discovers the truth, but for me it's not a good enough hook to keep me fully involved.
Thank goodness then for Jonathan Rhys Meyers whose creepy unhinged performance here is the highlight of the film. I did miss him when he wasn't on the screen as every other aspect of the story was a tad mundane. He transforms a rather unremarkable film in to something that is semi-watchable which is quite commendable.
The Good Neighbour is worth a look if there's nothing else on, but it's not something I would recommend making a big point of seeing.
There is quite a quirky dynamic between Robert and David which, at times, does make the film interesting. You can sense early on that Robert is a ticking time bomb whom it seems does not take rejection particularly well. On the other hand, David seems more of an average Joe who doesn't seem to possess any strange character traits; his only flaw perhaps is that he can be easily lead which is what puts him in the mess he ultimately ends up in.
Whilst it's clearly pivotal to the plot I have to admit to being less impressed with the film when Vanessa arrives on the scene. The bulk of the film revolves around her blossoming relationship with David; in all honesty David and Vanessa are both a tad bland and I would have preferred it if more focus would have been shifted on to both Robert (due to his more interesting persona) and the investigation surrounding the collision (which seems under-utilised). The only mildly intriguing aspect of their relationship is finding out when/if/how Vanessa discovers the truth, but for me it's not a good enough hook to keep me fully involved.
Thank goodness then for Jonathan Rhys Meyers whose creepy unhinged performance here is the highlight of the film. I did miss him when he wasn't on the screen as every other aspect of the story was a tad mundane. He transforms a rather unremarkable film in to something that is semi-watchable which is quite commendable.
The Good Neighbour is worth a look if there's nothing else on, but it's not something I would recommend making a big point of seeing.
What would you have done?
cynthia-5862418 June 2022
This one of those movies that starts out with the question what any of us would have in the same situation as the protagonist. What if you did something bad and you could get away with it? Has been done before. But the performances are really strong. Jonathan Rhys Meyers is great in his mix of subtle and all out moments. Luke Kleintank does a good job, being relatable while at the same time going down a slippery slope. The film has a retro feel in its premise, and also the pacing is not superfast, but the tension rises constantly to a surprising climax.
Very Predictable
utopianikos1 October 2022
Was quite excited to watch this film as I enjoy watching thrillers. I felt that the trailer was more exciting then the actual film. The plot was very predictable and I had worked out what was going to happen and the plot from the start. Nevertheless I did continue until the end which was somewhat what I expected but with an added puzzling surprise. The actor Jonathan Meyers didn't really fit the part and certainly I was very disappointed with his acting which doesn't really reflect his previous films. It was also quite disappointing to see Bruce Grant as this again does not reflect his long career in films. His part in this was quite short and the outcome and exit was again predictable and disappointing. There was quite a bit of foreign language spoken which was very disappointing. Nevertheless I would recommend watching the film if you like this type of movie and ensure that you watch until the end.
A thriller that gets progressively more uninteresting! [+40%]
arungeorge132 October 2022
Stephan Rick's thriller starring Jonathan Rhys Meyers and Luke Kleintank dips heavily during the middle and doesn't ever recover. It has an intriguing Latvian setting and a somewhat contrived premise, but what keeps you initially interested is how the lead characters react to the situation(s) they find themselves in. We only get a generic sketch of who they are, what they do, and what comprises their immediate past. The script doesn't bother to give you more details, neither do the performances carry enough heft to make you care. Between the two, Meyers comes up with a much better show since Kleintank's essentially a "tree trunk" during the entirety of the film. As an ardent thriller-enjoyer, I'd say this one bites the dust pretty quickly.
Good, tense thriller
email-7020017 June 2022
This is a good little thriller. Jonathan Rhys Meyers certainly knows how to play someone unhinged. You can tell there is something bubbling underneath his surface. I like how the tension slowly rises until the finale. Also the area the movie is shot in is something else. I don't know how much was shot on a soundstage but Riga as a backdrop is certainly a welcome change up. As I said, it is a good little thriller that hopefully doesn't get overlooked.
yet another quasi anglo-american...
ops-5253518 June 2022
Production going behind the iron curtain to shoot a movie because the cost of production a far lower there then in the west...enough about that...
its an accidental killing , and the unfortunate ones, just become neighbours does try to hide away the evindences.the collateral damage done in the plot isnt new nor original and the twists aint turning you upside down, but a small thrill in some broken latvian english, the small cast do what they are told, the story aint lifting an eyebrow of mine, it barely too slow on the plot and the playtime a bit too long, the filmography though have a layer of high quality. The score is nothing new on the block very generalized thriller music.
Its laike a quick lay, easi done , easi gone, and no more than that. Grumpy old man generously awards this a weak 6.
its an accidental killing , and the unfortunate ones, just become neighbours does try to hide away the evindences.the collateral damage done in the plot isnt new nor original and the twists aint turning you upside down, but a small thrill in some broken latvian english, the small cast do what they are told, the story aint lifting an eyebrow of mine, it barely too slow on the plot and the playtime a bit too long, the filmography though have a layer of high quality. The score is nothing new on the block very generalized thriller music.
Its laike a quick lay, easi done , easi gone, and no more than that. Grumpy old man generously awards this a weak 6.
Unsettling and unhinged
joannefraser-0687621 September 2023
Jonathan Rhys Meyers makes this film and he is the one who can fool and does it all silently devoid of empathy for all that gets in the way of his plan. Revenge is on his mind and his neighbor is the first to get his car damaged. Her sister comes to see the crime journalist who is involved with his own crime,,... Untrusting sly and both know what happened but each one of the other is getting more and more aggressive with each other. Not knowing what really is going on makes for a good psychological thriller that is definitely worth watching it is a situation that is plausible and reality turned on its head.
Good Character Development - The Good Neighbor
arthur_tafero18 October 2022
This film is interesting at several levels. We have all been faced with poor decisions we later regret. We have all done something wrong that we would like the world to forget. In this case, that event is a little extreme, but it gets carried off for two basic reasons. The writers have done a good job with character development of both David and his new-found friend, the nurse. Unfortunately, his new friend gives him bad advice. There are three people here who have made the wrong decision. Riding a bike at night in dark clothes with no flashing light on your bike is stupid. So is driving drunk. So is advising someone to break the law. I tend to be a bit sympatric to David, however, as the rider was absolutely partially at fault. Good writing and ending.
Really Good And...
slapdog324 June 2022
This Movie "The Good Neighbor" To Me Is Really Because It Reality The Events In This Movie Could Absolutely Happen, And Maybe Has Happened, This Touches On The Morales Of Two Men, One Who Is Innocent And May Have Had Some Morals Until And The Other Just Plain Sinister And Probably Never Had Any Morals From The Beginning, And Karma Is a B, I Would, Rather I Am Going To Recommend This Baby Right Here!
A Riveting Psychological Thriller
d-ramseeey24 August 2023
"The Good Neighbor" delivers a gripping psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. The intricate plot weaves together guilt, secrets, and unexpected alliances, creating a tense atmosphere throughout. Luke Kleintank's portrayal of David is hauntingly convincing, capturing the character's descent into moral turmoil. Jonathan Rhys Meyers adds a chilling dimension to the story with his portrayal of the enigmatic neighbor. While the ending is satisfyingly intense, a few pacing issues occasionally slow down the momentum. Nevertheless, the film's unique take on friendship and redemption makes it a must-watch for fans of the genre.
Unravels pretty well
ryanlion-385145 August 2022
The movie was pretty good. I actually liked it. It was different and I like the way the story unraveled. The actors all were believable in their roles. It reminds me that your sins will find you out! Some of the relationships were more than coincidence. The ending was pretty predictable, but still worth a look. A different take on a sociopathic neighbor in my book. It was filmed really well. Kind of a slow burn, still engaging. I agree the ending wasn't the greatest. I think they both would of been arrested. Deduction of star for that so 6/10 because the ending.
'I'm Sucking out the infection'...
Xstal17 June 2022
A hit and scum driver, with a new friend and adviser, takes you on a journey, as if you're nailed to a gurney, the acting's rather poor, absolutely nothing to adore, no method to the madness, just a pool of soiled badness.
A Movie Full of Suspense and Drama
maxwelljondrc29 August 2023
If you're after heart-pounding movies that rev up your adrenaline, this movie deserves a spot on your watchlist. Luke Kleintank's embodiment of David takes you through an emotional whirlwind, immersing you in his guilt-ridden journey. Kleintank's performance is a masterclass in conveying raw emotions, pulling you deep into David's psyche and making his internal battles resonate profoundly.
Eloise Smyth's portrayal of Vanessa adds a layer of emotional resonance that enriches the film's narrative. Her interactions, brimming with authenticity, evoke a spectrum of feelings, from vulnerability to empathy. Vanessa's presence serves as a bridge between characters, highlighting the human connections that drive the story's emotional undercurrent.
However, it's Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the enigmatic Robert who steals the show. Meyers infuses Robert with an air of calculated enigma that keeps you hooked. His character's complexity and the subtle nuances in Meyers' performance cultivate an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue, leaving you engrossed in deciphering his motives. If you're looking for a movie with lots of mystery and excitement, you'll enjoy this one.
Eloise Smyth's portrayal of Vanessa adds a layer of emotional resonance that enriches the film's narrative. Her interactions, brimming with authenticity, evoke a spectrum of feelings, from vulnerability to empathy. Vanessa's presence serves as a bridge between characters, highlighting the human connections that drive the story's emotional undercurrent.
However, it's Jonathan Rhys Meyers as the enigmatic Robert who steals the show. Meyers infuses Robert with an air of calculated enigma that keeps you hooked. His character's complexity and the subtle nuances in Meyers' performance cultivate an atmosphere of suspense and intrigue, leaving you engrossed in deciphering his motives. If you're looking for a movie with lots of mystery and excitement, you'll enjoy this one.
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