When watching a true crime documentary, I constantly grapple with the broad, existential question of what, if anything, I’m hoping to glean. The worst of them is mere exploitation. Jazzed-up recounts of gruesome, horrific crimes whose insights start and stop at “wasn’t this just nasty?” The best endeavor is to do something different, be it add new perspectives to a well-known case, spotlight unknown crimes, or give voice to long-forgotten victims.
As a whole, especially in an era where true crime as a genre continues to surge, it’s a mixed bag. I’ve enjoyed several, detested just as many, and found myself indifferent toward the rest. So, I was more than surprised when I sat down for a true crime documentary at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. Based on a highly publicized Florida murder, the proximity drew me in. I left confident it was the best documentary of the year. Now, the true crime masterpiece is not just streaming on Netflix but is also topping the charts. Learn more below:
Per Netflix: She would call 911, hurl racial slurs, and make threats – all over children playing. A devastating crime unfolds through years of police bodycam footage.
What’s most remarkable about The Perfect Neighbor is how austere and matter-of-fact Geeta Gandbhir’s direction is. There are some voice-overs and cutaways to other footage, though the film essentially plays out through years of body-cam footage. Think Hitchcock’s famous “bomb under the table” analogy. Though otherwise innocuous, if heated, we as an audience know this early footage is a prelude to tragedy, and it’s suffocating and heartbreaking to watch.
While I say it often, The Perfect Neighbor really does come with several trigger warnings. It’s a painful, tragic watch, suffocatingly tense and deeply heartbreaking. It’s hard to get through in one sitting, even knowing that the murderer, Susan Lorincz, is currently incarcerated. It doesn’t render anything we see less painful, and through footage alone, Gandbhir has accomplished something remarkable. It’s the most pulse-racing, upsetting documentary of the year. Check out some choice social reactions below:
What do you think? Any plans to check out The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix? If you do, let me know on Twitter @Chadiscollins, and consider contacting local lawmakers to push for the repeal of Stand Your Ground laws. If nothing else, let this watch spur you to action in some capacity if you can.
Categorized: News
