The Girl Next Door (2007) is based on the Jack Ketchum novel of the same name. The film takes inspiration from a series of terrifying real-life events. Gregory Wilson directed this jarring picture.
The Girl Next Door Is Loosely Based on a True Story
The Girl Next Door takes inspiration from the torture and murder of young Sylvia Likens in the 1950s. Though the screenplay differs some from the novel, it still captures the brutality inherent to the tome. The film never holds back in its unflinching depictions of depravity.
Wilson frames the narrative from David Moran’s (Daniel Manche) perspective. The young boy lives next door to Ruth Chandler (Blanche Baker) and her boys Willie, Donny, and Ralphie. Set in New Jersey during the 1950s, two adolescent sisters, Meg and Susan, were sent to live with their Aunt Ruth and her boys following the death of their parents.
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Over the summer, Ruth begins singling out Meg, (Blythe Auffarth of Keeping the Faith) the older of the two girls. Meg receives the majority of the punishment. It starts with name calling, but quickly moves into physical abuse and even starvation. When Meg reaches out to the police, they dismiss her claims. The vicious Ruth thrn throws Meg into the basement, ties her up, and hangs her from the rafters. Meg’s aunt, cousins, and the neighborhood children all get in on the torment.
The Girl Next Door Isn’t for the Faint of Heart
The subject matter of this film is hard to stomach. Despite that, The Girl Next Door is well-made movie that should be seen by the right audience. It’s smartly written and expertly paced. The acting is profoundly immersive, with the majority of the cast comprised of talented child actors with a keen understanding of their craft.
Unlike many horror films, The Girl Next Door is not just showcasing violence for the sake of violence. This film is about human nature, the more permissive attitudes around child rearing in the 1950s, and what we as human beings are willing to do to each other.
The Final Verdict on The Girl Next Door:
If you’re not easily shocked and enjoy your horror cinema firmly rooted in reality, I’d definitely suggest checking it out.
WICKED RATING: 7/10
Title: The Girl Next Door
Director(s): Gregory Wilson
Writer(s): Daryl Farrands, Philip Nutman
Stars: William Atherton, Blythe Auffarth, Blanche Baker
Year: 2007
Studio/ Production Co: Modernciné, Modern Girl Productions
Budget: (unknown)
Language: English
Length: 91mins
Sub-Genre: Crime, Drama
Updated July 30, 2024
