Netflix is upping their game in the true crime category once again, with a new docuseries that hit the ground running, and has consistently been at the top of the streaming charts for Netflix since its release on October 17.
The Perfect Neighbor debuted at 2025 Sundance, and left the festival with the Directing Award in hand. After that, it enjoyed a limited theatrical release in early October before hitting Netflix.
The story involves the shooting death of Ajike “AJ” Shantrell in Ocala, Florida, where she lived in the same neighborhood as Susan Lorincz. Lorincz was renting her place, which is an important fact, given that she consistently complained about the neighborhood children playing in the empty lot next door. The lot was not owned by Lorincz’s landlord, and, in fact, the owner of said lot had given his permission for the kids to play there.
Lorincz called law enforcement multiple times, claiming that the children were running to her window, playing in her driveway, etc. Despite the fact that she apparently had a camera, there were no photos of this reported activity.
Over time, the children said Lorincz would threaten them, call them the N word (something she later admitted), took their toys and even waved a gun at them. Her behavior was definitely escalating.
On June 2, 2023, Lorincz again called the police, saying the children had been antagonizing her, and that AJ had shown up at her front door, banging on it and supposedly terrifying Lorincz. Minutes later, she fatally shot AJ through her closed and locked front door, with AJ’s son by her side.
It’s a jaw-dropping and very fascinating story, told in a unique way. All of the video in The Perfect Neighbor is from police body cam footage recorded on several occasions after Lorincz called, and interrogation room video of Lorincz when she was interviewed about the incident.
Although there are a couple of voiceovers from witnesses/friends, those are few and far between, leaving viewers to feel as if they are right there as the story plays out. It’s a very intimate way to present the sad tale.
After Lorincz was interviewed, she was not immediately arrested, since Florida has a Stand Your Ground law, allowing individuals to use whatever force is necessary if someone is threatening them on their own property. This was very frustrating for the neighbors, who had been living with her false accusations and complaints for at least a year at that point.
It’s clear from law enforcement’s demeanor that they knew she was not being honest about her complaints, and we see them talking to the kids in a friendly way a couple of times. So, the community knew that Lorincz was the problem.
The Perfect Neighbor is an excellent documentary, and while it is often hard to watch (AJ’s son’s reaction when he finds out she is dead is absolutely heartbreaking), it’s an important piece of filmmaking.