A new clip from Neighborhood Watch gives audiences a tease of the dynamic at the heart of the Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan mystery. Directed by Duncan Skiles, Neighborhood Watch is a grimy character-driven mystery that never loses sight of the surprising comedy and humanity one can find in the world. The film largely focuses on Jack Quaid’s Simon, a nervous and mentally ill young man who has been released from the hospital but still has to reckon with the invasive thoughts and visions in his head.

After witnessing what appears to be a kidnapping while walking through his local town, Simon tries to get the authorities to ᴀssist in an investigation. However, no one is willing to believe him, forcing him to recruit his neighbor Ed, played by Jeffrey Dean Morgan. A former security guard with little confidence in Simon but even less to do, the pair make an unlikely duo that drives much of the film. Their dynamic is the beating heart and soul of Neighborhood Watch, which is obvious in an exclusive clip from the upcoming film.

Neighborhood Watch Is About Simon & Ed’s Dynamic

Ed And Simon May Not Like Each Other, But They Quietly Need One Another

The exclusive clip from Neighborhood Watch is a good indicator of the tone and tenor of the film, serving as a solid appetizer of the central relationship that drives much of the film. The clip follows a frustrated Simon as he walks down a grimy sidewalk, only to have Ed arrive and offer continued partnership. Both characters are prickly with one another, whether its the dismissive comments from Ed or Simon’s barely concealed edge.

However, both characters are also portrayed in a sympathetic light. Ed’s comments might make him come across as mean, but his genuine gesture to work together comes with a certain unexpected warmth thanks to Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Likewise, Jack Quaid gives Simon a certain amount of pent-up anger that informs much of his performance. Almost the entire movie is focused on their dynamic as they unravel what Simon saw and what it means.

Neighborhood Watch Is A Coen Brothers-Style Mystery

The Mystery Isn’t The Main Draw Of Neighborhood Watch

Neighborhood Watch is the second feature-length film from director Duncan Skiles, building off the success he found with the psychological thriller The Clovehitch Killer. Both films are rooted in a grounded perspective on the world, where kidnappers and killers are simple people who have the willingness to cross certain lines, while the heroes have to reckon with the limits and lengths they can go themselves. Simon, in particular, gets a fascinating arc in the film that explores his mental illness and how he handles himself in public as a result of it.

However, the true key to the film is the surprising amount of levity that Quaid and (especially) Morgan find in the film. Ed and Simon share a prickly but entertaining rapport that only becomes more effective as the film continues. At its best moments, Neighborhood Watch has the vibes of a Coen Brothers film, blending harsh reality, strong characters, and surreal touches together to make something truly unique. Neighborhood Watch is a great self-contained piece that highlights

Neighborhood Watch arrives in theaters on April 25 through RLJE Films.