HBO's 'Neighbors' Unpacks Bizarre Feuds and American Paranoia
The Josh Safdie-produced docuseries Neighbors on HBO draws viewers into a world of alternately relatable and terrifyingly alienating neighbor disputes. Once, as a local reporter in small-town Montana, I learned that nothing turns people into ghoulish versions of themselves like threats to their property, real or perceived. This lesson resonates powerfully in Neighbors, which captures contemporary American conflicts with riveting precision.
Extravagantly Petty and Unhinged Disputes
Over five gripping episodes, with a sixth premiering soon, Neighbors uses a hyper-stylized, fish-eye lens to explore proximity disputes and the fuzzy limits of personal space. The issues range from mundane to completely unhinged: a gay couple in Kokomo, Indiana, fumes over a neighbor's farm and goat smell; a retired Texas senator resents a nine-foot-tall concrete wall; and two Florida women viciously fight over a 35 sq ft strip of grass. Created by Dylan Redford and Harrison Fishman, the show is extravagantly petty, extremely stressful, and often unhinged, making it some of the best television this year.
Post-Covid Fantasia of Weirdness and Extremity
Neighbors operates as a post-Covid fantasia of American weirdness, paranoia, and extremity. In one episode, set in rural Montana, two men feud over a gate, but it's never just about the gate. Like HBO's The Rehearsal and How to With John Wilson, the show excels in editing and curiosity, sneaking into dark places. Subjects include a QAnon believer, a custom weaponry seller, and TikTok personalities monetizing their conflicts, highlighting how disputes often boil down to battles of Ring cameras and online documentation.
Ethical Lines and Mental Health Concerns
While presented neutrally or empathetically, Neighbors skirts ethical lines and risks punching down. For instance, a Florida man's extreme paranoia suggests untreated mental illness rather than mere conflict. The threat of violence looms, with multiple participants owning guns and easy access to weapons in states like Florida. This voyeuristic approach shares DNA with cable television, blurring lines between curiosity and potential danger, as seen in documentaries on stand-your-ground laws.
Catharsis in a Polarized Nation
Amid the murky swamp of mental illness, personality flaws, and compulsions, Neighbors is not only fascinating but cathartic. In a polarized nation, it explores how we coexist with diametrically opposed people, even if it feels surreal. The series is available on HBO Max in the U.S., with a UK date to be announced, offering a stark look at modern American life through the lens of neighborly strife.
