CRIME THRILLER. “Neighborhood Watch.” / “The G.” / “Beckett.” / “Becky.” / “Unhinged.”

“Neighborhood Watch” (2025, Hulu) crime thriller. A mentally ill young man thinks he witnessed a woman being abducted but the police don't believe him. He gets his neighbor, a retired security guard, to help him search for the missing woman.



 

       Director Duncan Skiles craftily turned Sean Farley's screenplay into an engaging ride. The narrative progressed at a thrilling pace + the performances of Jack Quaid as the mentally-challenged Simon and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as a “still there but out” retired security guard kept things very engaging. 

       Nice indie watch. 🎥💻📽


“The G” (2023, Amazon Prime) Canadian crime thriller. Stars Dale Dickey as a grandmother seeking revenge. Premise: After a corrupt legal guardian puts Ann, a grandmother, in a care home in order to take her property, Ann looks for vengeance with the help of her granddaughter Emma, who calls her "The G.” The film is set on the industrial edges of an unnamed city.



       Anchored on Dale Dickey's Coen-ish sinister cool portrayal of grandma Ann, this indie is absorbing enough noir. Interesting characters that aren't lifted from the usual cliches, the violence is smartly staged not to shudder but to accentuate a point. Romane Denis delivered a welcome complementary lightness to Ann's grim being, though the G isn't an evil stereotype at all. 

       Nice project from writer/producer/director Karl R. Hearne. 🎥💻📽


“Beckett” (2021, Netflix) action thriller. An American tourist vacationing in Greece becomes the target of a manhunt after an accident embroils him in a political conspiracy, and he must reach the embassy to clear his name. 



       A run-for-your-dear-life thriller that started with a powerful punch and then evolved into a flimsy yarn that failed to grab me. Hey, Beckett is John David Washington, son of Denzel, as though that mattered. All fine support cast: Vicky Krieps, Alicia Vikander, and Micharl Stuhlbarg. It didn't matter. 

       BTW, this movie's writer/director is Ferdinando Cito Filomarino, the former partner of the more capable Luca Guadagnino (who also co-produced). Still, it didn't matter. 🎥💻📽


“Becky” (2020, Netflix) action thriller. A father and daughter’s vacation home is besieged by a gang of Neo-Nazis. Key to this blood and gore ride is Lulu Wilson's deceptively fragile-looking Rambo performance. All 5’1” of her. We are conditioned to watch Kevin James and Joel McHale as silly comedians but here, they are a credible dramatic support. 

 


       The shallow script by marital partners Ruckus Skye, Lane Skye and Nick Morris offers no possibilities of creative rereading but directors Jonathan Milott and Cary Murnion thrill injections keep the entire exercise alive. Anyhow, this movie is all about tiny Lily Wilson, with a giant performance. 🎥💻📽


“Unhinged” (2020, Fandango) action thriller. Rachel Flynn’s family and friends are targeted by an unnamed man after a traffic incident. 

       Indeed, Russell Crowe makes for an eerily watchable bad guy.


This is his show. Meanwhile, although this movie lacks credible plot-point or common deduction whatsoever, the trigger-fast pace keeps us interested till the end credits. Director Derrick Borte could be a Michael Bay student. All flash, no depth. 🎥💻📽

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