Netflix’s The Perfect Neighbor begins not with narration, but with the tense immediacy of bodycam footage and neighborhood surveillance clips. From the first few moments, the documentary seizes attention with its raw portrayal of a dispute between Ajike “AJ” Owens and Susan Lorincz that spiraled into tragedy. Its gripping realism, fueled by authentic recordings and chilling calmness, blurs the line between storytelling and real life. Naturally, viewers are now curious about where the film itself was shot.

Many are eager to uncover the real-world setting that gave this story its haunting authenticity.

The Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor was filmed in Ocala, Florida, the actual location where the tragic events between Ajike “AJ” Owens and Susan Lorincz occurred. The documentary relies almost entirely on authentic materials, including police body camera footage, home security videos, and emergency call recordings, rather than reenactments. By presenting these real-life sources, the filmmakers offer a stark and compelling portrayal of the neighborhood disputes that escalated into a fatal confrontation, keeping viewers firmly grounded in reality.

The film draws heavily on Marion County police body camera recordings, Lorincz’s post-arrest interviews, and home surveillance material. By assembling these elements, the documentary reconstructs the escalating dispute with surgical precision, giving the audience an intimate, unvarnished view of a tragedy that feels both personal and hauntingly universal, giving birth to a documentary that the producer did not wish to make. 

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The Netflix documentary serves as an important examination of the terror caused by hatred, leaving viewers profoundly affected even after watching its harrowing content.

The Netflix documentary The Perfect Neighbor stands as a testament to the dedication of Geeta Gandbhir, the Emmy-winning director and co-producer whose personal connection to Ajike “AJ” Owens infused the film with urgency and intimacy. As co-founder of Message Pictures, Gandbhir brought a careful, unflinching eye to the harrowing story, ensuring that each frame conveyed the tension, tragedy, and complexity of the events without flinching or embellishment.

Recognition must also go to the documentary’s broader creative team. Producers Nikon Kwantu, Alisa Payne, and Sam Bisbee shepherded the project from start to finish, while executive producers Soledad O’Brien, Rose Arce, Sam Pollard, Jackie Kelman Bisbee, Wendy Neu, and activist Takema Robinson lent their experience and credibility. Editor Viridiana Lieberman shaped the narrative, and the collaboration between Message Pictures, SO’B Productions, and Park Pictures made the documentary’s existence possible.

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