Neighborhood Watch
is a sweet story about a young man who finds acceptance packaged in a thrilling crime drama. The film stars Jeffrey Dean Morgan and Jack Quaid, who help elevate the film. And while there are some small issues in terms of how believable the story is, the charm and action more than make up for it, resulting in a beautiful and emotional story.
The Boys‘ Jack Quaid plays Simon McNally, a young man who has an intense mental illness, and Morgan (best known for Supernatural and The Walking Dead) plays his neighbor, Ed Deerman. Ed previously worked as a security guard, though he finds it difficult to let go of old habits. Events kick off when Simon witnesses a young woman being abducted, and he struggles to convince people of the events, until Ed agrees to help, leading them both on a tense adventure.
Jeffrey Dean Morgan & Jack Quaid Make A Tremendous Action Hero Duo In Neighborhood Watch
While the film is set up as a crime thriller, the relationship between Simon and Ed takes center stage. These two people from completely different walks of life find a connection in their desire to help the helpless, and throughout the film, the evolution of this unlikely alliance gives the whole movie character. Most of the other elements take a backseat because Quaid and Morgan’s performances are completely hypnotic.
These two people from completely different walks of life find a connection in their desire to help the helpless, and over the course of the film, the evolution of this unlikely alliance gives the whole movie character.
Both actors are well-versed in playing charming characters who have some rough edges. Together, they make for an incredible duo that unexpectedly delivers great results. Jeffrey Dean Morgan brings his usual tough guy persona to the role, and though he comes across as gruff and harsh at times, he maintains a constant endearing quality. Meanwhile, Quaid does a spectacular job playing a struggling young man who longs for acceptance.
Ultimately, Quaid and Morgan make the movie what it is, and that is a great thing, because the actual film contains some inconsistencies and quirks that could break the immersion if it weren’t for the two leading men. The final result is a surprisingly touching, tense, and thrilling narrative that follows unlikely protagonists on the road to becoming heroes.
On Most Counts, Neighborhood Watch Nails It
The visuals, the casting, the overarching plot, and the chemistry between the lead actors are all exemplary. Throughout Neighborhood Watch, all these elements land time and again, consistently delivering a high-quality story that is easy to get lost in. However, where the movie does lose its way a little is the attempt to make an emotional soundtrack, and a struggle to deliver authenticity in some parts of the story.
The visuals, the casting, the overarching plot, and the chemistry between the lead actors are all exemplary.
The soundtrack makes an effort to expand on the emotions of the story and to add tension to scenes, but it’s a little too generic to be completely effective. It’s not unpleasant or offensive, but due to the quality of the overall film and the acting being so great, the less-than-stellar music is more noticeable. And in terms of authenticity, the writing is likely to blame. Some characters just behave in strange ways that don’t make sense, and it grinds the pace to a halt when Morgan and Quaid are not onscreen.
Despite these minor gripes, the film is a genuine pleasure to watch, especially for fans of either or both of the leading actors. The narrative is similar to Quaid’s other recent action thriller, Novocaine, but the character is significantly different, which helps make Neighborhood Watch stand out. As an indie film, the team bringing this movie together makes the finished product all the more impressive for its polished story, direction, and lead performances.
Neighborhood Watch is available in select theaters and on streaming from April 25.