‘The Perfect Neighbor’ Review: A Revolutionary Doc, Made From Bodycam Footage, Takes Us Inside an Avoidable Tragedy
variety.comPeter Debruge Chief Film Critic Who among us, when we were young, did not annoy the cranky old geezer down the street? In some cases, you couldn’t help it, as there are some people who simply aren’t made for suburban living, terrifying the neighborhood kids by growling “Get off my lawn!” any time an oblivious child stepped foot on their precious property.
In so doing, they made themselves targets when it came time to toilet-paper someone’s house or ding-dong ditch. No one dreamed the witch next door would make good on her threats.
Director Geeta Gandbhir’s ironically titled “The Perfect Neighbor” focuses on the shocking case of one such grouch, Florida woman Susan Lorincz, who went all Clint Eastwood on a trespasser.
That’s a flippant way to describe a real-life tragedy, which resulted in the death of African American single mom Ajike “AJ” Owens, but movies have a way of endorsing violent solutions.
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