Other mistake: After Earl and Vic tangle in the swamp, Earl staggers back to his house to discreetly use the basement shower, where he is shocked to find Vic already there and waiting for him, hiding in the dark behind the shower curtain. Both men are literally covered from head to toe in thick, muddy muck from the swamp. but there is no trace of mud (handprints, smears, etc) on the shower curtain nor in the clean, white shower; and, when Earl manages to chase Vic out of the basement, he leans heavily on the door for a moment after slamming it, which should have left a huge, muddy print on the door's clean, white surface. But, as Earl steps away, there is no muddy print on the door at all. (00:38:57 - 00:39:42)
Neighbors (1981)
1 other mistake - chronological order
Directed by: John G. Avildsen
Starring: Dan Aykroyd, Cathy Moriarty, John Belushi, Kathryn Walker
Genres: Comedy
Continuity mistake: When Earl is invited into the house by Vic, it is still dark outside, probably wee hours of the morning. After what seems like only a few minutes inside the house, Earl leaves and it is light outside. (00:52:10 - 00:57:25)
Earl Keese: This is crazy... but there's something so right about it.
Trivia: The 1980 novel "Neighbors" by Thomas Berger (upon which this comic film is based) was actually a much darker and more serious psychological story about a reserved, unexceptional suburbanite going to war with his younger, less-inhibited new neighbors. In fact, the novel's lead character, Earl Keese (played by John Belushi in the movie), actually dies at the end of the book. The film adaptation attempted a lighthearted, almost slapstick approach to the story, allowing Earl Keese to survive and run away with his zany neighbors to pursue a happier life. Ironically, the movie's production was so chaotic (with temperamental conflicts and rampant drug use among the cast and crew) that John Belushi relapsed into heavy addiction and died of an overdose of cocaine and heroin less than four months after the film was released.
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