We rented the 2010 Canadian movie Good Neighbors after reading the blurb about a serial killer on the loose and three nervous young people in an apartment.

Well, our fertile, febrile imagination conjured up scary visions of a thriller, a whodunit and a fierce-looking serial killer scaring the bejesus out of the gals he’s raping and killing.

Alas, we were rather disappointed with the movie as it turned out.

While it was not an unwatchable horror-show (that odious distinction belongs to Indian films), Good Neighbors can at best be placed in the OK category.

Written and directed by Jacob Tierney based on Chrystine Brouillet’s 1982 debut novel Chère Voisine, Good Neighbors’ principal problem is in the plodding script.

One would expect a movie about a serial killer and three nervous people to give us and other viewers some heebie-jeebies and uncertainty as to the identity of the killer.

Alas, not too long into the movie we could not only guess the identity of the killer but also that …. Oh well, let’s not spoil it for you just in case you feel like watching this film.

As for the serial killer, we almost never see him at work.

Worse, he never sent a chill up our spine. 🙁

Only through occasional newspaper accounts and conversation between the three people do we learn of his murderous activities.

The three main actors Jay Baruchel, Scott Speedman and Emily Hampshire do a fine job.

Alas, in vain for that can’t lift the movie from the sinkhole it falls into very early.

Also irritating and never clearly explained is Louise’s inordinate fondness for cats.

And what’s with these Montreal gals.

Do they always go around with a grim visage, never smiling!

If you have nothing else to do and if your only alternative is an Indian movie, then by all means watch Good Neighbors.

Otherwise, give it a pass.

  Emily Hampshire, Good Neighbors, Jacob Tierney, Jay Baruchel, Scott Speedman, Xavier Dolan