Next Door Spy (Danish: Nabospionen)—also known as Agathe Christine: Next Door Spy—is a 2017 Danish traditionally animated detective film written and directed by Karla von Bengtson (in her feature directorial debut).[1][2] Released on 10 August 2017 by Copenhagen Bombay, an English dub was released on 16 June 2020 by TriCoast Entertainment. Despite the film's name, the plot has no relation to any of Agatha Christie's detective novels.[3]

Next Door Spy
English-language poster
DanishNabospionen
Directed byKarla von Bengtson [da]
Screenplay byKarla von Bengtson
Produced byMette Valbjørn Skøtt
Fie Ørnsø
Edited byLinda Jildmalm
Music byNathan Larson
Lanre Odunlami
Distributed byCopenhagen Bombay
TriCoast Entertainment
Release date
10 August 2017
Running time
77 minutes
CountryDenmark
LanguageDanish

Premise edit

Agathe Christine, or AC as she calls herself, wants to become a real detective, and establishes her own makeshift detective bureau in the basement of her home. One day, she meets a mysterious boy, Vincent, in a local shop, leading her to devote her full time and energy to surveilling him.[4]

Voice cast edit

The Danish voice cast for the film.[2]

  • Simone Edemann Møgelbjerg as Agathe "AC" Christine
  • Oliver Bøtcher Herlevsen as Vincent
  • Kristine Sloth as Sanne
  • Anne-Grethe Bjarup Riis as Mor
  • Søs Egelind as Varanen
  • Tommy Kenter as Kiosk-Arne
  • Dar Salim as Vincent's father
  • Albert Rudbeck Lindhardt as Vincent's brother
  • Harald Kaiser Hermann as skater boy
  • Mille Lunderskov as selfie girl
  • Viggo Bengtson as Lillebror Bertil
  • Annevig Schelde Ebbe as the GPS voice

Release and reception edit

Next Door Spy was released in Danish cinemas on 10 August 2017 by Copenhagen Bombay.[2] An English dub was released on 16 June 2020 by TriCoast Entertainment.[3] Critically, it received generally positive reviews in Denmark,[4] but foreign reception was mixed. The story and characters received praise, but criticism was directed at the English dub's profanity and the talking lizard character as unnecessary.[3][5]

Jacob Wendt Jensen, writing for Berlingske, gave the film five out of six stars, stating that the plot "is both exciting, charming and offers surprises," further adding "Next Door Spy can engage anyone who has the heart and their curiosity in the cinema."[4] Bobby LePire of Film Threat, who gave the film a more critical score of one out of ten, was particularly critical of Agathe Christine's mother, stating that her not trying to understand Agathe's detective hobby made her "one of the worst, most unsympathetic parents in any movie who does not actively abuse or neglect their offspring."[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b LePire, Bobby (28 June 2020). "Agathe Christine: Next Door Spy". Film Threat. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Next Door Spy". Danish Film Database. Danish Film Institute. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Arnold, Eden (1 June 2020). "Agathe-Christine: Next Door Spy Review: Fun-Loving Film for Older Kids". Bleeding Cool. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Jensen, Jacob Wendt (9 August 2017). ""Nabospionen" er en dansk animationsperle" ["Nabospionen" is a Danish animation gem]. Berlingske (in Danish). Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  5. ^ Longstreet, Renee. "Next Door Spy". Common Sense Media. Retrieved 4 August 2022.

External links edit