Award-winning filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir’s new documentary film reveals the fatal consequences that can occur when individuals feel emboldened by the law to act on their fear and prejudice. For years, disgruntled neighbor Susan Lorincz calls the police on the children who play in the vacant land next to her Florida home. Initially, the kids and parents commiserate with local law enforcement commiserated with the kids and parents about Lorincz’s complaints. But her calls continued, with increasing hostility,culminating in a devastating crime. 

With striking humanity and unflinching clarity, The Perfect Neighbor is told almost entirely through police bodycam footage, bearing witness to a close-knitcommunity contending with their ongoing nightmare. The chilling escalation of events led to Lorincz shooting Ajike “AJ” Owens, a mother of four and a vibrant, beloved community figure. The killing of Owenssparked a reckoning throughout the United States about controversial state legislation like Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which can allow individuals to use deadly force if they feel their life is in danger, even if they can retreat to safety and they are outside their homes.

Learn more about The Perfect Neighbor here.

The Perfect Neighbor is available to stream on Netflix on Oct. 17 and is in in select theaters Oct. 10.