The Good Neighbor

Ethan is a tech-savvy high school student living across the street from Harold, a reclusive and grumpy old man. Harold's antisocial behavior exemplifies his disdain for human interaction, as he routinely ignores visitors and even threatens a neighbor's dog.

In an effort to spice up their school project, Ethan and his friend Sean decide to prank Harold by convincing him that his house is haunted. They plan this trick during Harold's shopping trips when he leaves his front doors unlocked.

The boys use Sean's dad's credit card to purchase a variety of electronic gadgets. They strategically place hidden cameras inside Harold's house to capture his reactions while they operate the devices from Ethan's bedroom.

As they monitor Harold through their remote setup, Ethan and Sean become intrigued by a locked cellar door, contrasting sharply with the rest of Harold's open home. This moment piques their curiosity about what secrets the cellar might hold.

The boys remotely manipulate lights and music, leading to odd occurrences with Harold inside the house, who shows no sign of fear. During these moments, flashbacks reveal Harold's memories of his late wife, hinting at his deep-seated sorrow.

After the lights flicker and trigger his security alarm, Officer Palmer visits to check on Harold. However, Harold dismisses him brusquely, which frustrates Ethan, who suspects something significant is being overlooked.

As the boys' pranking escalates, it becomes clear Ethan has underlying resentment towards Harold due to a past incident involving his father’s jailing after an altercation with Ethan's mother. This personal motivation intensifies their investigation.

Tensions erupt between Ethan and Sean over trust issues, especially after a party reveals a hidden camera. This discovery leads to a rift in their friendship, though Ethan remains resolute about uncovering more about Harold.

After a mishap with Harold's cat unmasks a hidden camera, Ethan sneaks back into the house and discovers the cellar door is unlocked. His curiosity leads him to descend into the cellar where he unveils a shrine dedicated to Harold's deceased wife.

While exploring the cellar, Ethan accidentally rings a hand bell, awakening Harold. In a tragic misunderstanding, Harold believes the bell signals his deceased wife, leading him to take his own life with a handgun.

In the aftermath of Harold’s shocking death, Ethan and Sean hurriedly try to erase any evidence of their surveillance activities before the police arrive. Their frantic attempts highlight their fear of the consequences of their prank.

Officer Palmer, alerted by the gunshot, arrives at the scene to apprehend the boys. Their apprehension marks the turning point where their actions land them in serious trouble, foreshadowing the heavy toll their prank has taken.

As Ethan and Sean face the judicial system, flashbacks reveal Harold's profound grief over his wife’s death. This keen reflection brings to light the emotional suffering that had led him to despair, changing the boys' perspective on their actions.

Ultimately, the boys are sentenced to probation and community service for their roles in Harold's death. Their trial serves as a sobering lesson about the impact of their actions and the importance of responsibility.

After the trial, the boys' friendship is left in tatters, and they go their separate ways. As Ethan faces a barrage of reporters, a small smile forms on his face, showcasing the complex emotions he grapples with post-ordeal.