Good Neighbours Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A socially awkward teacher moves into a Montreal apartment building populated by a cat-obsessed waitress and a wheelchair-bound guy with a secret, while a serial killer gives everyone the neighborhood watch jitters.

🍿 Good Neighbours: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Setting the Scene in Montreal

The film is set in Montreal in 1995, a time of heightened political tension due to the Quebec referendum. The story centers on an apartment building where residents are on edge due to a series of local serial killer attacks. This backdrop of social unease amplifies the paranoia and suspicion among the characters.

Introducing the Main Characters

The film introduces Victor, a newcomer to the apartment building, attempting to integrate into the community. He befriends Louise, a waitress obsessed with her cats, and Spencer, a wheelchair-bound resident. These three characters quickly become intertwined, forming an uneasy alliance amidst the rising tension.

Rising Suspicion and Deception

As the serial killer continues to terrorize the neighborhood, the residents grow increasingly suspicious of each other. Louise seeks revenge after her cats are poisoned, leading to a series of escalating events. The film explores themes of paranoia, isolation, and the lengths people will go to protect themselves.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Victor Spiegelman (Jay Baruchel): A socially awkward and overly helpful new tenant who tries to befriend his neighbors while a serial killer is on the loose.
• Louise (Emily Hampshire): A cat-loving waitress living in the apartment building, who is obsessed with the serial killer and takes extreme measures to protect herself and avenge her pets.
• Spencer (Scott Speedman): A wheelchair-bound man with a mysterious past, who may be harboring dark secrets and has a complicated relationship with his neighbors.
• Valérie Langlois (Anne-Marie Cadieux): An alcoholic, abrasive neighbor who is a bane to everyone in the building, especially Louise due to her hatred of cats.
• Roland Brandt (Gary Farmer): The Behavior Psychologist and detective investigating the serial murders, adding an element of suspicion and tension to the community.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Louise: “Oh. This is so disgusting. O my god I don’t know how people do this. Ohh!” – Said after slitting Valerie’s throat, highlighting her detached and almost clinical reaction to violence.
• Louise: “I don’t know who to trust.” – Expresses the central theme of paranoia and suspicion among neighbors in the face of a serial killer.

💰Box Office

• Budget: N/A
• Domestic Gross: $7,072
• Worldwide Gross: $7,072

💥 Good Neighbours Reviews

Personal Review

Okay, ‘Good Neighbours’ is definitely one of those movies that sticks with you. I was constantly questioning who was actually crazy, or just pretending! I felt terrible for Victor who seemed like he was really trying to fit in and then things just spiral. It was a slow burn, but totally worth it for the ‘WTF’ ending. That cat scene at the end! I was shocked and oddly satisfied at the same time. Definitely recommend if you like dark, quirky thrillers.

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of dark comedies”
  • “Viewers interested in suspenseful thrillers”
  • “Those who appreciate character-driven stories”
  • “Individuals interested in Canadian cinema”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Violence”
  • “Sexual content”
  • “Graphic nudity”
  • “Strong language”
  • “Disturbing themes”
  • “Animal harm (cats are harmed in the plot)”

Professional Reviews

• Nerdly: “Good Neighbours masterfully blends dark humor with suspense, creating a truly unsettling atmosphere. Performances are captivating, drawing you into the characters’ twisted realities. While the plot occasionally meanders, the overall experience is darkly rewarding.
• Blogcritics: “Good Neighbors is a film noir mystery which rivals anything the Coen brothers (Blood Simple, Fargo, No Country for Old Men) have ever done. You’ll find yourself being suspicious of nearly everyone at some point, at least until they too become a victim.

Audience Reactions

The offbeat humor and unsettling atmosphere kept me on the edge of my seat, even when I wasn’t sure what was going to happen next.: Viewers appreciated the film’s unconventional approach to the thriller genre, highlighting the unpredictable plot and darkly comedic elements.

Overall Consensus: A quirky, unsettling thriller with dark humor and memorable performances, though some find the plot slow-paced and the ending ambiguous.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “The film is based on the 1982 novel ‘Chère Voisine’ by Chrystine Brouillet, which director Jacob Tierney read in high school.”
• “Director Jacob Tierney overcame his initial reluctance to create a serial killer film, realizing that the story was ‘way funnier and way more diabolical than just being a book about a serial killer'”
• “The movie is set in 1995 Montreal, during the second referendum on Quebec’s separation, adding a layer of social and political tension to the narrative.”

🖥️ How to Watch Good Neighbours?

Good Neighbours is available for rent or purchase on various platforms including Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, and Google Play Movies. Check your local listings for availability on streaming services.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Good Neighbours, you might like these similar films:

• Rear Window (1954): Shares the theme of voyeurism and suspicion of neighbors, with a protagonist confined to their home observing potentially criminal activity.
• Shallow Grave (1994): Features dark humor and a group of housemates turning on each other after a shocking discovery.
• The Tenant (1976): Explores paranoia and the unsettling atmosphere of apartment living, where the protagonist suspects his neighbors are conspiring against him.

🛒 Good Neighbours Related Products

• Montreal Cityscape Jigsaw Puzzle – 1000 Pieces: A beautifully illustrated puzzle featuring a Montreal cityscape. Bring home the city that hosted the movie’s unique characters.
• Vintage Quebec Referendum Poster – Limited Edition: Own a piece of history with a reproduction of a vintage poster from the 1995 Quebec Referendum. A conversation starter for fans of the movie’s historical context.
• Noir Thriller Movie Collection – Digital Download: Get a curated collection of classic and modern noir thrillers. Discover other similar films from a different place and time that explore the genre’s dark themes.
• Crazy Cat Lady Starter Pack – Novelty Gift Set: Get ready to honor Louise by paying tribute to the crazy cat lady. Fun gifts will be included in this item.

🎧 Soundtrack

Good Neighbours features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Sow Some Lonesome Corners So Many Flowers Bloom” – performed by Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Spongebob Squarepants – Good Neighbors

Remember that episode where Squidward just wanted some peace and quiet, but Spongebob and Patrick made it their life’s mission to annoy him? This clip is gold; it’s a perfect example of why the show is so hilarious!

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