It’s a special feeling, ain’t it? That surreal moment when you’re watching a movie and suddenly, there it is – a street you’ve walked down a hundred times, a storefront you’ve passed without a second thought, or a stretch of shoreline that looks a little too much like your favourite summer swimming hole. There’s something special about that brief jolt of geographic recognition that turns a cinematic experience into something uniquely personal. That’s exactly the feeling Grey Bruce locals are going to have when they watch the entirely Bruce County-shot film, “Loathe Thy Neighbor,” a film that at its heart, or at least its backdrop, is purely local.
We’re all familiar with the beauty that surrounds us in this neck of the woods. The quiet charm of our small towns, the expansive, ever-present Lake Huron and Georgian Bay, the rolling hills and farmland – Executive Producer, and one of the film’s stars, Brennan Clost, is no stranger to the area, and knew he’d be filming in Bruce County from the get-go. The entire film took seven weeks to shoot – from ideation to wrapping the edit. A wild achievement for any production of this caliber. The film uses the familiar, picturesque settings in South Bruce to amplify the film’s unsettling absurdity. The sunny, friendly facade of a rural neighbourhood becomes the ironic canvas for a rapidly escalating feud between neighbours.
“I grew up coming to Bruce County every summer. It’s always been a special place for me and it’s very cinematic,” muses Clost. “I want to continue making things in the area. It really was the perfect storm in terms of the places and things I have access to. I’m lucky to have my friends give me access to their property.”
The premise of the film was actually inspired by a true story that happened to a friend of Clost’s – a neighborly dispute over a misdelivered package that made them rethink their relationship with a neighbour, and lightheartedly question what they thought they knew about people in their community.
“The ordeal made them feel like, ‘ugh, maybe I can’t trust my neighbour, maybe I can’t borrow that cup of sugar, or feel the way I’m supposed to feel about trusting a neighbour,’” says Clost. “We took that idea, the concept of the misdelivered package… my character is the quintessential young professional moving up to the country from the city, who is allergic to everything. He orders an EpiPen to the farm that’s misdelivered and asks his new neighbour about it, she accuses him of theft and a rivalry ensues from there.”
“I hoped that it would do this well and would have a journey like this, but it’s continued to surprise me… I want to keep making movies in Bruce County. It has so much untapped potential.”
The location in question is home to a collection of buildings the team was able to shoot in, making production a close-knit, highly adaptable set. The crew was able to make it look like an outbuilding was a neighboring home out in the country. Using movie magic, they were even able to recreate a police precinct inside of a barn. What’s more, the massive winding driveway was made to emulate a country road, with crew members driving up and down it to simulate rural traffic – all without having to leave the property.
The film, at its core, is a classic, creative DIY project. It’s not about big budgets or Hollywood soundstages; it’s about a team with a vision and the audacity to use what they’ve got to tell an enjoyable story. It’s a testament to the fact that you don’t need to go to the city to make something beautiful or meaningful – you can just look at what’s in front of you and tell a story with it. The cast and crew took the everyday reality of a neighbourly dispute and pushed it to its absolute breaking point, and in doing so, created something unique.
“We reverse-engineered how a normal film would be shot,” says Clost. “We started with the location first. I had access to a friend’s property, they were kind enough to let us take over – all of us lived on the property. That took care of where we would stay, where we could film – so it became an issue of deciding what kind of film we could create around these parameters. So, it really came about in reverse, whereas normally a script would be worked on and shopped around, but for us location came first.”
Watching the film, you’ll have no idea it was made on a micro shoestring budget with a grand total of 8 crew members and 8 cast.
“It really felt like indie, guerilla style filming. Lauren [Holly] and I had shot a Netflix series together before, and after that show we always talked about wanting to collaborate and make something together… When the writer’s and actor’s strike hit in 2023, it felt like a perfect time to get something out. All of our most talented friends were available, so we saw the strike as an opportunity to take creative control back ourselves and decided to make this movie… We pulled favours where we could,” laughs Clost.
The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival as part of the Industry Selects program in 2024. The program is composed of standout and audience-ready titles from around the world that are positioned for sale in the global marketplace. The showcase allowed Clost to secure distribution for the film and progress its journey forward.
“I don’t think I really anticipated how well this would go,” says Clost. We got into TIFF last year and we’re releasing in theatres this month – I don’t think I really anticipated it. I hoped that it would do this well and would have a journey like this, but it’s continued to surprise me… I want to keep making movies in Bruce County. It has so much untapped potential.”
What’s really special about the film isn’t just its dark humor or its clever use of the psychological thriller trope. It’s the fact that it’s a testament to our community’s creative potential. This isn’t a film that just happened to be shot here; it’s a film that, given the circumstances of its creation, couldn’t exist anywhere else. The authenticity of the setting, the specific feel of a small Bruce County town, is inextricably linked to the story. It shows that our landscape is more than just a place to live or visit; it’s a character in its own right, full of untapped stories and dramatic possibilities.
Films like this remind us to look at the world around us a little differently. They show us that the drama isn’t just on the screen; it can be on the quiet street we walk down every day. So if you get the chance to see it, do it. Go for the laughs, and see if you can spot your favourite local spot on the big screen. It’s a small film with a massive impact, and it’s a beautiful thing to see our little corner of the world making a big statement.
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Loathe Thy Neighbor hits theatres across the country on August 29th in Landmark and Cineplex theatres. Check your local theatre listings for your chance to go see a piece of locally created cinema.
