How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog (2002)

In the heart of Los Angeles, we find Peter McGowan, a once-celebrated playwright now ensnared in a decade-long dry spell. This insomniac chain-smoker, haunted by the relentless barking of a new neighborhood dog and a mysterious doppelganger roaming the streets claiming his identity, struggles with a life that seems to be spiraling out of control. His loving wife, yearning for the pitter-patter of tiny feet, is met with his resolute disinterest in parenthood, further complicated by an unexpected bout of impotence. In the midst of this chaos, an unforeseen change sweeps into his life. A single mother and her precocious eight-year-old daughter move next door, and Peter's wife, with a maternal instinct shining bright, promptly welcomes the young girl into their home. An unlikely friendship blossoms between the reclusive playwright and the wide-eyed child, as he finds himself drawn into her world. Is it merely a quest to capture the innocence and candor of childhood dialogue for his new play, or could it be the stirrings of latent paternal emotions within him? Amid the cacophony of the neighbor's dog, the disorienting presence of his impersonator, and the enigma of his own desires, Peter navigates this tumultuous phase. Will the young girl's presence rekindle his creativity, igniting his play with authentic dialogue and possibly, breathe new life into his marital and personal world? The narrative unfolds, exploring these intricate relationships and the profound questions they raise.

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog is a comedy movie featuring Kenneth Branagh and directed by Michael Kalesniko.

How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog is currently streaming for free (ad-supported) on FILMRISE, Freevee and The Roku Channel.