TWISTED NEIGHBOR (2023)

TWISTED NEIGHBOR (2023)

Tagline: Nope.

(Mystery, Drama, Everyone in This Movie Sucks) [PG-13]

Note: This movie doesn’t have an MPA rating, but definitely would have been rated [PG-13]. It was released on streaming services under the rating TV-14.

So Colleen, tell us your deepest darkest secrets…

In this one, Colleen Kirk moves into a really nice suburban neighborhood called Sunny Vista to start a new life after her mother is embroiled in a scheme that landed her in jail. The entire neighborhood uses an app called “Neighborhood News” that they effectively used to spy on their neighbors, post to social media, etc. It doesn’t take long before things spin out of control and Colleen’s interactions with the neighbors lead to jealousy, gossip, sinister accusations, dark truths, and even murder. 

First off, one thing I really hate about some movies is when I start off really liking a character, and like 30 minutes into the film they are so morally corrupt it’s nearly impossible to care. 

There is an extremely truthful line in this movie from Colleen’s mom where she says that the problem with having a life that is too pleasant is that you start inventing problems. I think that statement sums up a good amount of the problems in our society over the past 24 years or so. I think you can argue that we peaked as a society in the 80s, went a little downhill in the 90s, and then after 1999 never really recovered. Part of that is not because the problems have increased, it’s because society invented new things to be offended and miserable about. I think the biggest reason for that is a near complete abandoning of traditional Biblical values, but getting back to the film, it’s basically a microcosm of how superficial, narcissistic, and morally depraved society has become. 

In this movie everyone is shady and even the characters we want to like are shady. For me, that can ruin a movie fast. If you want me to care about your film you have to give me more than just an interesting premise. There is a really tacky “shrooms” scene in this. I thought it was kind of weird that Colleen would fall for Dan after like 2 seconds. Also as just sort of a tip from this movie, an open marriage isn’t a marriage. It’s just two people who aren’t good enough for each other sleeping around hunting for STDs

As far as the pacing goes the first half is very slow. There are some wasted opportunities here where we could have gotten to know the main characters better but they didn’t really bother expanding on that. As an example, we are told that one girl has a husband, but we never see him. Seems sort of nuts because other things are expanded on. The score works for this film, but it never really feels like there was a coherent plan for the tone of this thing. There is virtually no soundtrack. I am guessing this was a cost-cutting measure. 

Acting wise Kathryn Kohut does a good job in this as Colleen. She certainly wasn’t the problem with this movie. Kathryn was in 4 movies just in 2023 but has most been in B-movie drama stuff like this. Zach Smadu plays Dan in this and like everyone else, he sucks. Smadu is most famous for his role on TV “The Expanse”. Josette Jorge (VICIOUS FUN) is just okay as Kimberly. I feel like anyone could have done this role though. Natalie Brown (DAWN OF THE DEAD) is pretty good as Jillian, but no one outside of Kathryn Kohut is really challenged to a great extent here. Someone should get a hold of Hannah Ireland for their next film because she is given a tiny role in this and does a solid job. 

Not much else to say here guys and gals. This movie is pretty run-of-the-mill “movie of the week” type stuff. I pretty much hated it, but it’s not the worst movie I have seen even this year. It’s not even in the bottom 10. 

TWISTED NEIGHBOR gets a 2 out of 7, for not at least delivering 1 redeeming character outside of a reporter they gave 90 seconds of screen time.
 

GRAPHICS ARE THE PROPERTY OF MARVISTA ENTERTAINMENT AND ARE USED FOR REVIEW PURPOSES ONLY.