The Killers Next Door, written and directed by Michael A. LoCicero, begins with ex-convict Bobby (David Pridemore) finding his foster brother begging for a cigarette and a job. Ryan (LoCicero), said brother and also an ex-convict, is none too pleased to see him. However, Bobby convinces Ryan to give him a chance, and they head toward the New Hampshire woods.
Meanwhile, Ro (Rosanna Jimenez) and her husband, Sean (Sean Carmichael), are getting away to try and reset their relationship. At a local gas station, Bobby helps Sean out when he sees the owner swindle him. Once Ro and Sean leave, Bobby menaces the owner and his granddaughter. As fate would have it, Ro and Sean are staying in the next closest cabin to the one Bobby and Ryan are squatting in. Over the next few days, the former felons begin to wear out their welcome to the married couple. What is the secret the violent Bobby is hiding? Why is Sean such a doormat? What did happen to Ro’s sweet puppy?
The Killers Next Door is equal parts drama and thriller. For a good while, the story observes these characters, asking audiences to study how they interact with each other. Bobby might be impulsive and quick to anger, but he can turn on the charm. Ryan is desperate to start a new life, but for one reason or another, he cannot say no to his brother. Ro is tired of her husband always letting people take advantage of him, while Sean wants to reignite the passion they once had. Every character is well-defined with motivations that make sense (or, in Bobby’s case, he is just a sociopath).
“…the former felons begin to wear out their welcome to the married couple.”
This does mean the thrills are not constant, as they don’t even begin in earnest until halfway or so through the picture. But the drama and character dynamics are engaging on their own. Once the intensity boils over, the fear and frustrations of Ro and Sean, plus Ryan’s odd ways of helping, are felt and provide all watching with a sense of dread for the outcome of these people.
The cast of The Killers Next Door is a large reason why the film works as well as it does. Pridemore makes the simple act of unfolding a chair terrifying. LoCicero feels genuinely trapped and plays the role with a sense of longing for something, anything better. Jimenez portrays Ro’s anxieties authentically. Carmichael plays the sad sack loser with no confidence believably but is careful to never turn him into a stereotype.
The Killers Next Door is an interesting hybrid of a drama and a crime thriller. The plotting may mean things aren’t as exciting as one may initially expect, but once the thrills hit, they hit hard. The cast is game, and their respective characters are well-written, containing several dimensions each.
"…equal parts drama and thriller."
