Neighborhood Watch

If you’ve ever lived in a neighborhood, you know the value of a good neighbor. Someone to borrow sugar from, watch your pets while you’re away—or, in more extreme cases, help you investigate a possible kidnapping that no one else believes actually happened. Okay, maybe not so much that last one… but it’s exactly the hook in Duncan Skiles’s Neighborhood Watch, a sharp, offbeat thriller that reminds us just how important it is to have someone next door who’s got your back.

Simon (Jake Quaid) is trying to hold his life together after a rough run with mental health. He can’t keep a job and is crashing with his sister DeeDee (Malin Akerman), who’s doing her best to support them both. Then one day, after another failed interview, Simon witnesses something bizarre: a girl being shoved into a van in a dark alley. He tries to stop it but can only memorize the license plate. When he goes to the police, they shrug him off—chalk it up to his history, maybe even delusion. But Simon knows what he saw.

Desperate, he turns to his neighbor Ed (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), a gruff, no-nonsense guy who Simon thinks used to be a cop. Turns out Ed was just campus security—but that doesn’t mean he’s useless. At first reluctant, Ed eventually agrees to help, and the two begin their own investigation. As unlikely partners, Simon and Ed make for a compelling duo, and what unfolds is a blend of small-town mystery, character study, and just a dash of buddy comedy.

Written by Sean Farley, Neighborhood Watch doesn’t always hit every narrative beat smoothly, but it more than makes up for it with snappy dialogue and great chemistry between Quaid and Morgan. Their banter feels lived-in and authentic, elevating scenes that could have easily fallen flat. While the film teases a comedic tone at times—especially with the “odd couple” setup—it smartly leans into its more serious themes, particularly around mental health and the challenges of being dismissed by society.

This is very much Quaid and Morgan’s show, and they carry it well. Unfortunately, the supporting cast doesn’t get the same treatment. Akerman, who’s always solid, feels criminally underused here, and most side characters are little more than background noise. Still, the heart of the story lies with Simon and Ed, and their unlikely bond becomes the film’s emotional engine.

Neighborhood Watch is a thriller with heart—tense when it needs to be, light when it can be, and always anchored by two strong performances. It delivers what you expect, then surprises you with a little more. It’s not perfect, but it’s engaging, smart, and grounded in something real. And if this neighborhood ever needs watching again? You’ll want it to be on the same block as Quaid and Morgan.