MovieChat Forums > Fear Thy Neighbor (2014) Discussion > Response/Opinion: Kill de sac

Response/Opinion: Kill de sac

posted 9 years ago by Nephlim14
8 replies | jump to latest

It is my persoanl opinion that:

1. The whole thing could have been avoided if the white collar guy had just LEFT THE OTHER FAMILY ALONE. They weren't deliberately bothering him, the kids were no more annoying than most kids who play outside, and it wasn't just HIS neighborhood, it was EVERYONE's. Out of all those neighbors, HE was the only one calling the police (bullying) on the family just because their personal lifestyle clashed with his "peace and quiet".

2. Also, the trucker shouldn't be written off as just "out of control". He spent a long time trying to mind his own business, while getting harassed by this controlling, entitled man over trivial accidents, and constantly had his family threatened. The military guy went too far, and the jury could not acknowledge that.

3. It should be noted that the trucker put more effort into trying to be friendly with the neighbors more than the other guy did. From the narrative, Military guy was the only one throwing a fit because what... "the other family was too loud", "they kept stumbling into my area", these were the same motives for the previous killers from past episodes. The only motive for this "white collar government worker's" actions is that this harmless, normal family clashed with what he deluded himself into thinking was "his neighborhood" and, if his character is the same as the show's interpretation, he was more than glad to shoot the trucker, especially when it led to the "trash family" moving out of his "perfect neighborhood". I sincerely hope the other neighbors give him shame, and the stink eye for what he did, he tore a family apart over a bunch of pointless, selfish garbage.

P.S. If anyone remembers the name of the two men involved, I like to research the victims and murderers online to see any updates.

[–] anthonynorris-783-181359 9 years ago

I didn't see the whole episode just the last 15 minutes, so I don't know everything but did the show mention that the guy who got shot was drunk?
If they didn't think that was something that should be shared because it made the dead guy look bad what else did they leave out?
https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1980&dat=19960209&id=j4EiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=wK0FAAAAIBAJ&pg=1264,1451485&hl=en

[–] thephoenixxx 9 years ago

The name of the man who was shot was Duren Eldridge, and the shooter was Robert Lorenz. This story was ridiculous, Robert's complaints were seriously unreasonable. "Your kids are playing outside, I don't like it. Your dog peed on my lawn, how dare you!" this is normal stuff that happens in every neighbourhood, who does this guy think he is? To have it escalate to someone dying over it is just pathetic and tragic.

Duren never should have gone to Robert's doorstep, but Robert is horribly unreasonable. Duren's daughter just visiting the area where her father died caused him to call the cops. What a horrible and nasty individual.

[–] slidell333 7 years ago

Just another old, nasty man with too much time on his hands. It's not HIS neighborhood as the OP said, it's EVERYONE's...

You're average coward. Shut the door if he was so scared.

[–] rosemei 9 years ago

I think white collar guy should have just put up one of those big privacy fences. It would have kept the kids, dog and flying skateboards out of his yard and reduced how loud the noise was. But then he couldn't have spied on them from behind his curtains.

[–] Geiri (844) 7 years ago

You really nailed it with the whole couldn't spy on them anymore.

The thing with these frustrated type of people is that they seem to enjoy it at some level. They get off from bitching about stuff all the time.

[–] VAJane (2) 3 years ago

First of all, how do you know if putting up a fence was even an option? I’m familiar with that part of the country, and most HOA communities in that area don’t allow any fencing in the front yard. (A shame, too, because who doesn’t love an adorable white picket fence?) More importantly, why should a homeowner minding their own business have to barricade themselves behind a 6’ wall? Lorenz wasn’t the one doing wrong, the Eldridges were.

Secondly, it sounds like the Eldridge teenagers and their friends were on a campaign of bullying and harassment of the Lorenzes, while the Eldridge parents did nothing to reign them in. If my kids were deliberately trashing a neighbor’s landscaping, leaving dog poop in their yard, and letting their car roll down the driveway to hit the neighbor’s car, I’d drag them by the scruffs of their neck to apologize, followed by my own profuse apologies and an offer for monetary compensation for damages. What I would never do is defend my kids’ misbehavior. Part of good parenting is holding our kids accountable for their behavior.

Lastly, a drunken man standing on my front stoop, pounding at my door in a rage, making violent threats would definitely be perceived as a very real threat. I’d be terrified. I’d be curious to know if he had a history of assaults or arrests, or of similar disputes with previous neighbors. I doubt Eldridge’s behavior was a one-time incident.

The “Fear Thy Neighbor” episode made the Eldridges look like a harmless, fun-loving family and portrayed Lorenz as an unsympathetic villain. I guess they picked the narrative they thought made for the best TV viewing. Obviously, the jury saw things very differently, choosing to exonerate Mr. Lorenz completely.

[–] VAJane (2) 3 years ago

As a footnote to this matter, the Eldridge family dropped their $3.75 million lawsuit against Lorenz in exchange for a $30,000 settlement and Lorenz dropping his countersuit. Their lawyer got $10,000 of that settlement. (Per an old Washington Post story.)

I hope Eldridge’s daughter recovered from this tragedy. Her bitter pain at the end of that show was evident. I hope she is in a better place today.

[–] TorinChad07 (1) 3 years ago

Yes! You nailed it!
And this episode, I couldn't even finish because they got some major details wrong, specifically that Lorenz worked for FEMA, not Homeland Security. This was in 1996 and Homeland Security was established in 2002. If they can't even get his profession correct, something that's easily found, then what else did they get wrong? I agree with you that the episode just made it seem so one sided. I feel for the daughter as well and hope that she heals.