New Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor is now accessible to stream, and it is utterly totally different from each different documentary film we have seen on the platform. Why? It solely makes use of police bodycam footage.
No VTs, no interviews after the actual fact, and no injected narrative by editors or administrators. Only uncooked footage being performed in chronological order to inform a harrowing story. The Perfect Neighbor begins in 2023, following disputes between neighbors Ajike “AJ” Shantrell Owens and Susan Lorincz in Ocala, Florida.
I used to be fortunate sufficient to see the Netflix film again in January, and I’ve been fascinated about it ever since. Even apart from the horrific and devastating story at its core (extra on that later), I feel the brand new documentary’s construction may change the best way we eat content material for good.
Why it’s essential to stream The Perfect Neighbor on Netflix this weekend
The Perfect Neighbor | Official Trailer | Netflix – YouTube
Spoilers for The Perfect Neighbor beneath.
As you may see from the above trailer, Lorincz ignites neighbor disputes by repeatedly calling the cops on a bunch of kids who’re enjoying on the grass reverse her home. The land is not technically owned by anyone resident, however Lorincz claims it is a part of her property (that is key to understanding how issues escalate).
Some of the youngsters in query belong to Owens, who lives throughout the street from Lorincz. The calls from Lorincz get extra frequent, which causes extra stress, and as one police officer places it, “There would not have to be a name for service each time there are children enjoying within the yard.”
It’s an extremely honest remark, however Lorincz persists. Then, fatality, as surrounding neighbors hear a shot coming from Lorincz’s home. She shot and killed Owens, with the best way she did prompting a dilemma for police due to Florida’s ‘stand-your-ground’ regulation. Netflix does a significantly better job of explaining what meaning than I ever may, I promise.
There’s additionally one other facet of the case I have never absolutely launched – Lorincz is white, whereas Owens and her kids are black. Racial discrimination is a big a part of neighborhood stress between Lorincz and principally all people else, sparking outrage from Civil Rights activists because the movie progresses.
Owens has an extremely touching household memorial that we get to see (it is value mentioning that a few of her kids noticed her die) and you can not assist however really feel overwhelmingly distraught in regards to the consequence of an argument that by no means wanted to be dropped at the police, by no means thoughts leading to somebody’s loss of life.
The Perfect Neighbor has already been dubbed as ‘revolutionary,’ and I’ll fortunately comply with that. Owens’ household desires its Netflix launch to create change, and it might be outrageous if that did not occur.
There’s one thing so uncooked in regards to the lack of added narrative that usually comes with edited documentaries, and it is extremely efficient. Not solely do you must put the items collectively, however Owen’s story tells itself with out being pigeonholed right into a industrial binge.
It’s destroying, highly effective, and an indication that we will change how true crime consumption appears. I’d reasonably see info introduced to us as they’re reasonably than individuals’s previous trauma being filmed for leisure, and hopefully, the tide turns now.
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