While films are almost always best watched within a cinema, some movies may not be worth the price of a theatre ticket but are an enjoyable watch all the same. Directed by Duncan Skiles, Neighborhood Watch is a passable crime comedy elevated by solid acting. As a film that seems destined to be viewed in the comfort of your home, this is an easy-to-watch flick that doesn’t disappoint.

After witnessing an abduction, a young mentally ill man seeks the help of a retired campus security guard to do something good with his quickly spiralling life. The picture stars Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan, who are joined by Cecile Cubiló and Malin Akerman.

Neighborhood Watch is an engaging picture that doesn’t step outside of its comfort zone, for better or worse. It’s fairly funny at points and often intriguing, even if its most interesting aspects are thinner than one would have hoped. Although this may not be near the high quality of his first feature, The Clovehitch Killer, Duncan Skiles has once again displayed efficient filmmaking.

The movie shines brightest with its core performances by Jack Quaid and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Quaid tackles the challenging role of a paranoid schizophrenic with much enthusiasm and delivers a sympathetic character that serves as the story’s heart. A more elaborate narrative could have better fleshed out this psychological portrayal, but for what this film is, the performance works fine enough. Alongside him, Dean Morgan is quite strong as a pathetic man, ageing out of relevance. With just a look or a smile, he manages to land solid laughs or subtle moments of emotion, often at the same time.

Neighborhood Watch is a “get what you expect” kind of film. In an age filled with disappointing releases, a picture like this may be the perfect watch in between the year’s biggest blockbusters. At the very least, it’s solid proof that Duncan Skiles has a promising directing future ahead of him.