Audience Member
"Next Door" / "Naboer" (2005): My Impressions of a Disturbing Plot
I recently watched the Norwegian film "Next Door," also known as "Naboer" from 2005. I'd heard about it as a psychological thriller, and I was curious to see how much it would grip me. And I must say, my impressions are quite mixed, but overall, I really liked the plot itself.
A Plot That Pulled Me In
From the very beginning, the film immerses you in a very unsettling and claustrophobic atmosphere. I saw the main character, John, who has just been dumped by his girlfriend and seems to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown. And that's when two mysterious sisters, living next door, appear in his life. Their strange behavior, mind games, and constant hints of something sinister slowly but surely begin to unravel his already fragile reality.
I really liked how the film plays with perception. I was constantly wondering: Is this actually happening? Or is John just losing his mind? This ambiguity, where you can't distinguish reality from hallucinations, kept me very much on edge. The plot truly captivates with its dark intrigue and psychological pressure. It makes you constantly doubt and try to piece together the puzzle, even when everything starts to seem utterly meaningless. The atmosphere of madness and manipulation was conveyed very convincingly.
One Drawback: Protracted Scenes
However, there was one aspect that, honestly, I didn't like. I'm talking about some of the sexual scenes, which, in my opinion, were too long and explicit. I got the impression that their duration was intentionally extended, perhaps to increase the film's runtime. I understand that in such a psychological thriller, sex can be an element of manipulation or an expression of despair, but here it sometimes seemed excessive and drawn out. These moments, in my feeling, distracted from the main intrigue and suspense rather than adding depth.
Overall Impression of the Plot
Despite this particular aspect, the plot itself impressed me greatly. The film skillfully explores themes of mental disorder, loneliness, dependence, and how easily a person can fall under another's influence when their world crumbles. The narrative, though convoluted, led to a very powerful and memorable ending that made me ponder for a long time about what I had just witnessed.
"Next Door" / "Naboer" is, without a doubt, a very bold and atmospheric film. It's not for the faint of heart or for those seeking a simple entertainment movie. But if you're ready to delve into a dark, psychologically intense world where reality intertwines with nightmare, then the plot of this film will likely appeal to you as much as it did to me, despite some of its more excessive moments.
Rated 5/5 Stars •
Rated 5 out of 5 stars
05/27/25
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dick n
A really good Norwegian thriller that a lot of people have never heard of! Well worth the watch.
Rated 3.5/5 Stars •
Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
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Audience Member
Pretty trippy movie. It's an unoriginal concept/plot that is executed very well. I'd say it's excellent for 3/4 of it and then just good for the last 1/4. A final twist is executed nicely, leaving a dark taste in your mouth. But for that first 3/4 of the film it's exciting, tense, sexual, trippy and it makes you think. Big clues are slowly revealed during this time. In the end it still deserves 4* because it's layered and leaves a lot of thoughts/questions roaming around inside your head. This is largely due to the level of detail in the movie and it's significance to totally understanding the movie. It's obvious that most of the movie plays out in his head, but what did each sister represent? I assume the neighbours apartment is so messy because that space is a reflection of what's really going on in his mind. His apartment is very clean and neat because that represents what he thinks his headspace is like. He thinks it's all normal and tidy whereas in reality it's a complete mess with different characters (psyches) residing in there. The neighbours apartment was so huge with all these tight corridors leading to so many different rooms (the locked doors representing compartments inside his mind that he wasn't able to access due to his self defence mechanisms) and they all represent his state of mind. It's big because there's a ton of stuff going through his head. There are so many different rooms because they each represent a different component of his busy mind. As mentioned before it's really messy because he has a cluttered mind. I just know for sure I'm missing more to the story ie more hidden meanings/symbolism, and that's a reason why I'm such a big fan of this movie... because it keeps you thinking about it. If you have anything to add to this review please please reply and let me know how you interpreted it or what I have missed. This film is dark in addition to be a surrealist psychological horror, so this isn't for everyone. If you're against violence between males and females (sadomasochism) then skip this movie. But if you love a dark psychological thriller/horror that really makes you think both during and after the movie, this is really for you.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/15/23
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Audience Member
Brilliant and unique. Took a while to get going but once it does, it just kept getting better and better.
Rated 4/5 Stars •
Rated 4 out of 5 stars
01/22/23
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joen z
This show is so damn weird!
Rated 1.5/5 Stars •
Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars
03/31/23
Full Review
Audience Member
A creepy psychological thriller that packs a wallop in its short running length.
Rated 3/5 Stars •
Rated 3 out of 5 stars
02/17/23
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