Additional Coverage:
- Netflix viewers ‘bawling their eyes out’ over crime doc they claim ‘was by far the hardest to watch’ (themirror.com)
Netflix’s Latest True Crime Offering Leaves Viewers in Tears
Netflix has once again captivated audiences with its latest true-crime documentary, “A Perfect Neighbor,” which premiered on the streaming platform on October 17th. The film, which first debuted at the Sundance Film Festival, has viewers “bawling their eyes out” as it unravels a heartbreaking story of community tension and tragedy in Ocala, Florida.
Directed by Geeta Gandbhir, “A Perfect Neighbor” delves into the summer 2023 shooting of Ajike, a mother of four, who was gunned down by her neighbor, Susan Lorincz. The documentary utilizes police bodycam footage to piece together the events leading up to the fatal encounter.
The narrative begins in the fall of 2022, detailing a series of escalating complaints made by Susan Lorincz to authorities regarding children playing loudly and leaving trash in a vacant lot next to her home. These frequent calls continued until June 2nd of the following year, when Ajike confronted Lorincz at her residence.
That night, Lorincz made two calls to the police. The first reported her neighbor attempting to break down her door and threatening her life.
Just two minutes later, a second call came in, with Lorincz stating she had shot Ajike through the door. Despite emergency responders’ efforts, Ajike was pronounced dead at the hospital.
The emotional impact of the documentary has been widely shared by viewers on social media. One X user admitted, “I bawled my eyes out,” while another wrote, “Watching the Perfect Neighbor on Netflix crying my eyes out.”
The raw reactions of Ajike’s children during police interviews particularly resonated with audiences, with one user recalling, “When the police asked ‘Are you hurt’ and he said ‘No, but my heart is BROKEN’. I started WEEPING.
Omg.” Another viewer declared it “by far the hardest to watch” among the many crime documentaries they’d seen.
Director Geeta Gandbhir herself acknowledged the profound impact of the case, telling Tudum, “This shocking crime left my family and me engulfed in grief and confusion. It was heartbreaking to witness how such a close environment could unravel so catastrophically.”
Lorincz was arrested four days after the shooting, with an investigation launched to determine if her actions fell under Florida’s “stand your ground” law, which permits the use of deadly force if an individual believes their life is in danger. In 2024, she was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to 25 years in prison.
“A Perfect Neighbor” is now available for streaming on Netflix.