The Girl Next Door

Plot synopsis:
Based on Jack Ketchum's novel with the same title, which is based on the true story of Sylvia Likens, who was tortured and killed in 1965 in Indiana.(Warning: the following plot description, due to the content of the movie, is not for the squeamish)The movie starts in contemporary New York City when 50ish stock trader David Moran (William Atherton) sees a homeless man hit by a car. He acts immediately to save the man's life by giving him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Later, at home, Moran sits studying a drawing obviously made by a child. The incident that day has reminded him of a time in the summer of 1958 when he failed to act to save a life. The rest of the film proceeds as a flashback.Teenage David Moran (Daniel Manche) is down catching crawfish at the local stream when he runs into the new girl in town, 16 year-old Megan Loughin (Blythe Auffarth). Megan and her little sister, ten year-old Susan (Madeline Taylor), have just moved in with David's next door neighbor, divorcee Ruth Chandler (Blanche Baker) and her three sons. Meg and Susan have recently been orphaned after a car accident that left Susan crippled.The Chandler household is a big teenage hangout in the neighborhood. Mrs. Chandler (who the kids call "Ruth") is considered a cool parent as she secretly lets the kids drink beer and plies the boys with salacious talk.When David runs into Megan a couple days later she tells him that nothing she does seems to please Ruth. David has an idea to make peace between them: he suggests that Megan draw a picture for Ruth. Meg does not want to do this as she is afraid that Ruth with ridicule her. David suggests instead that Megan draw one for him. She does this (it is the picture the adult David is contemplating at the beginning of the film) and David presents it to Ruth telling her that Megan drew it for her. Ruth sees through this and rejects the drawing telling David to keep it.When David arrives at the Chandler house a couple days later he finds the Chandler boys tickling and groping Megan. She hits one of them hard and runs from the room. Ruth arrives and takes the boys side of the argument. She would like to punish Megan, but as she is gone, Ruth instead decides instead to punish Susan for "conniving" with her sister and gives Susan an sound, old-fashioned, bare-bottom spanking with a toilet brush while the boys watch. Megan returns to her sisters cries and is forced to watch the beating.The next day Meg reports this to police officer Jennings (Kevin Chamberlin) who speaks to Ruth. Ruth is able to deflect his inquires, however, and confronts Megan telling her she will find a way to keep her from running to police with her complaints.The next day when David arrives for a sleepover, he finds the whole household in the basement. Megan has been blindfolded and tied from the rafters by her wrists. She is standing on a pile of books and each time she refuses to confess to something Ruth has accused her of a book is pulled out increasing the strain on her arms. When the books are gone Ruth allows her oldest son, Willie (Graham Patrick Martin) to use his knife to strip the girl naked. When Meg still fails to cooperate, Ruth decides to leave her in this position all night. Before exiting, however, Ruth makes the chilling observation that if Megan is still difficult she may switch the girls' roles and let Megan watch while her ten-year-old sister takes her place stripped and hanging from the rafters.That night David can't sleep thinking of Megan in the basement. He talks the other boys into sneaking downstairs to ease her bonds and give her something to drink. The other boys cooperate, though it is clear they fear Ruth finding out.Over the next few days David tries to help Megan out by slipping her a knife to cut her bonds and leaving the basement door unlocked so she can escape. She gets out, but is caught when she tries to sneak Susan out of the house too.David tries telling his parents what is happening, but fears Ruth too much.Megan's torment reaches a peak one afternoon when the whole household, David and several other teenagers (including girls) are in the basement. Meg is tied naked on a unpadded metal box spring while Willie is allowed to rape her and the rest watch. When he is done the neighborhood punk, Eddie (Michael Zegen) suggests that they "cut" her. Ruth likes this idea and uses a sharpened, hot, bobby pin to carve a sexually explicit message into Meg's abdomen. Ruth observes this will keep any man from wanting her and suggests that to keep Meg from wanting a man they use female circumcision on her.This suggestion to too much for David and he tries to bolt the room to get help, but is knocked to the ground. Ruth then proceeds to circumcise Meg using a propane torch.When David awakes he finds his hands are tied and he is locked in the basement with Susan and Megan. Fearing Ruth will kill them all; he gets his hands free and comes up with a plan for escape: he fills a metal pot with rags and sets it ablaze. The smoke rolls up the stairs and out under the edges of the house. When Ruth races through the basement door to find out what is going on, David hits her over the head with Susan's crutch, apparently killing her. Willie knocks David to the ground and is about to knife him when Officer Jennings and the police, who have seen the smoke from the street, intervene and subdue Willie.While Megan lays waiting for EMS, David lies next to her and asks her forgiveness for not acting sooner. She forgives him and tells him she was glad that he acted in the end. Megan then dies.Back in contemporary times we see the adult David kneeling by the stream where he first met Megan. He tells the audience he will never forget her. In the reflection of the water we see a teenage Megan briefly appear kneeling beside him. She disappears and the picture ends.

Tags: cruelty, murder, dramatic, violence, cult, horror, flashback, tragedy, romantic, sadist

Review:
This is an excellent film and therefore in some ways it is a pleasure to watch, but anyone who has seen it will know that it's effectiveness in fact makes it almost unbearable to watch.The story revolves around two girls who have recently been orphaned and are sent to live with their aunt who has three young sons.
She is a middle aged woman obsessed with feminine purity who sees the new arrivals as a potentially corrupting influence on the masculine world she presides over.She actively encourages her sons to perpetrate more and more severe acts of bullying and sadism against the older girl who is eventually tied up in the basement and used as a play thing by all the neighbourhood children.Only the boy who lives next door, who has become friends with the girl, has a growing sense of unease about the "games" which are taking a very sinister turn, yet he is powerless to change the course of events.This film is very well written, directed and performed and is therefore a relentlessly depressing affair which is horribly painful to watch.
I Like the horror genre and THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is on a different level.This movie is so realistic to the teeth, that it makes you think about life.
It makes you think that all the flashy movies you have ever seen are like cartoons compare to this.It's about child abuse, torture, and manipulation.It shows how powerful a parent affects a child's mind.I don't know, I'm still very disturbed by the movie.Although, I would want more bad things to happen to that witch and her boys, the movie ends very well.It's not about revenge, more like a lesson to be thought, that there are sick people out there who are actually doing this to children, and the question is what are you going to do about it?.
I am looking forward to "An American Crime" which is based on the court transcripts of the actual case and should adhere more to the facts but nonetheless "The Girl Next Door" is a film that punches you in the gut and refuses to relinquish it's grip on your senses..
As the torture worsen you feel more and more sympathy for the girl; this is what makes the movie excellent because it captures the audience in a very powerful way.
I would not recommend anyone to watch this movie before they go to bed because it will be hard to sleep having to think about the poor girl being tortured.
But Auffarth accepts the role and does an amazing job of being the normal "girl next door".While watching this film, I told myself I had finally found the spiritual successor to "Last House on the Left" and my opinion remains the same.
The real girl, for example, also had to consume human waste, which is not shown here.Making the film even more powerful is that we are shown the events from the point of view of the neighbor boy, who has a crush on Meg (despite being a few years younger).
Ketchum, who is extremely proud of this film adaptation, speaks openly about production company Moderncine's initial pitch to him: "Let us make this movie before Hollywood does and ruins it." To bring The Girl Next Door to the screen, Moderncine enlisted some topnotch talent, including award-winning director Gregory Wilson, who here displays a tremendous talent working with actors, and veteran writers Philip Nutman and Daniel Farrands.
It is far more horrifying then anything I have ever seen and the script makes it come to life which makes it even more terrifying....If you are looking for a horror movie and don't have heart problem then watching it should be a priority just expect to feel horrible afterwards...I can't believe this managed to get R rated in USA...
Now, I'm not going to go into any great detail, but what happens to Meg in this film is disturbing, but incredibly engrossing to watch.The acting on all fronts is nothing short of brilliant, the detail on the set is stunning, bearing in mind it is set in the 50's the attention to detail is excellent.How anybody can give this a low rating beats me - if you don't think you are going to like it, don't watch it - it is'nt nice, but it is an essential piece of film-making, well written, well directed, well acted - and devastatingly delivered.AWESOME...10 out of 10..
That was what I wanted to do to the characters of this film (except the one protagonist of course).If you've ever thought a person could be cruel, abusive, and plain down right evil - The Girl Next Door will teach you that you haven't seen anything yet.
This is a very harrowing movie based on a true story from 1958 of an adopted teenage girl who is kept tied-up in a basement and horribly physically and sexually abused by her male cousins and other neighborhood kids, all under the orchestration of her very insane woman-hating aunt.This movie is definitely hard to watch (it prompted at least one walk-out at the midnight film festival showing I attended), but it's nowhere as graphic as it COULD be given the subject matter, and it doesn't revel in the abuse and degradation of the girl like many of these kind of movies tend to (think "I Spit on Your Grave" and some of the recent so-called "torture porn.").
This kind of helpless but moral hero is actually a lot more realistic than the usual avenging Rambo type in typical Hollywood movies (which ought to be called "revenge porn", and are even more dangerous than legitimate "torture porn" because they create the kind of dangerous fantasies that lead entire countries to blunder into places like Vietnam or Iraq).
In that respect, it kind of reminded me of one of my favorite all-time movies, "River's Edge", which is also very disturbing, but ultimately very morally uplifting in a human (rather than revenge fantasy) way.The acting by all involved is excellent and the directing more than adequate.
One of the few films that doesn't shy away from showing what human cruelty is, and shows that it is nothing short of disturbing and tough to endure, I've watched the entire film and I'll say that I am a fan of the horror genre, but when it comes to films based on actual events and you find out that they are disturbing and tough to watch, then you tend to view them under a different light than your regular horror films.THE GIRL NEXT DOOR is based on the bestseller by Jack Ketchum, which is based on the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens, a case which I did extensive research on to understand what this film was about, and compared to my research the actual events were certainly more brutal than what is shown in the film, but the film still packs a powerful punch, think of it as a semi truck packed full of mixed emotions, because thats what you'll feel like after you've watched this film, like you got hit by a truck and you're left with a bag of mixed emotions.The acting is brilliant, each of the cast members did more than a great job, but it was rather the character story of the developing relationship between Meg and David that gave this film its actual strength, and the very last moment between these two characters is something that would even make a grown man cry, which takes place after the grueling last fifteen minutes.Overall, I think its a good film if one understands the intentions behind it, which is telling a story based on actual events that are indescribably cruel and sick, exactly as it should be told, truthfully..
Pretty much point for point this movie hits all the most important events and spoken lines from Jack Ketchum's novel, a liberally fictional telling of this true story.No, this film lacks something else entirely.
Although I have never read Jack Ketchum the idea of even writing or filming a story of this nature is revolting!Torture against children is a serious and horrible issue that should be made aware of but this movie is beyond educating people about abuse.But the most upsetting thing in this film is the fact that children were used in the film doing and saying things that no parent should allow.Unfortunately money seemed more enticing to the parents which is an abuse itself!
But after watching the movie, the first thought I had was "Meh".As everyone probably already knows the story is based on Jack Ketchum's depressing and disturbing read by the same name, The Girl Next Door.
It's pretty obvious that the acting in this film (besides the actress who played Ruth) is amateur at best, and with a movie with nothing but acting to drive it along, I'm surprised so many people are really enjoying it as much as they say.
I feel that this movie could be compared with the likes of seven and other strong films in the horror genre.
I don't want to sound like some whiny baby but unless you enjoy seeing a group of children, tie up, torture and rape a young girl in the basement shown in extreme detail, please take my advise and do not watch this.
It will make you feel ill.I know there are sick people out there but I don't want to watch a near snuff film about their depravity.
I mean it's hard to say that a torture movie is great because it is disturbing to watch.
Mainstream Hollywood tends to specialise in searing emotional dramas designed to make its audience shed tears - but the fact that everything here is presented completely raw means that the audience is left to make their own minds up; which has apparently left some viewers unaffected - but it was what ultimately made the film so powerful for me.The film takes place in the fifties and we focus on David Moran; a young boy who meets a young girl named Meg Loughlin when she moves in next door with her sister after the death of their parents.
I would like to thank you for reading this and this is my warning to ya all before you go out and rent it thinking that its going to be a really good horror movie because its not.....
I believe the author of the book who created this film should be ashamed as telling a story is very different from showing it and i do not think anyone who has had abuse would want it to be re-enacted for others to watch including this poor girl, this man should have stopped at his books.Im sure many pedo's and other weird people will get a real rush from watching this movie so well done.
This movie is great in sense of a sad story, but believe me I spent my 1 hour in hell while watching it really in hell and I just want to say that some stories should remain untold, My body was shaking and sometimes I cried like a girl but I will not forgive my self that why I have seen it.
This movie is great in sense of a sad story, but believe me I spent my 1 hour in hell while watching it really in hell and I just want to say that some stories should remain untold, My body was shaking and sometimes I cried like a girl but I will not forgive my self that why I have seen it.
What I got wasn't nearly as graphic as I had imagined, but thanks to its 'based on a true story' subject matter and impeccable performances all round, the film proved to be as soul-crushing, demoralising, utterly nasty, and incredibly sad as can be.Blythe Auffarth plays teenager Meg Loughlin, survivor of a terrible car crash that claimed the lives of her parents and which left her younger sister Susan (Madeline Taylor) seriously disabled.
David (Daniel Manche), the boy next door who has befriended the older sister, is appalled by what he witnesses, but is unable to prevent poor Meg from being beaten, branded, raped and mutilated.A totally harrowing experience designed to leave you feeling numb inside, this is far from what could be described as an enjoyable film, but as a study of just how corrupt and evil people can be to a fellow human being, there are few that are more effective.
The movie is talking about the story of Sylvia Likens,a girl murdered in 1965...you can check internet about her tragic story...in contrary with the other movie "An American Crime"...this movie here says the truth story in some other way...the things that changed were on the persons not on the story and the cruelty she was punished...in the movie "An American Crime" the only thing we weren't told is that the "woman-beast" that tortured Sylvia is an innocent human being...i recommend it totally but please read the story of Sylvia Likens first 10 out of 10...but don't let the kids watch it...it's too shocking about them....
What follows is then a sketchy, shallow and mainly illogical portrayal of the senseless torture and abuse suffered by the girl, at the hands of the crazy woman and her sons.The narrator, an unwilling child observer to the abuse, suffers inner turmoil as he watches the horror unfold and only ever in an inept manner can he bring himself to tell anyone about whats happening.Once the premise of the story is set up the viewer is then subject to scene after scene of violent abuse, ever increasing, with little coherence or plot development.
Whilst preparing to watch "The Girl Next Door" I was trying to lower my expectations because we all know that movies based on books are usually deceiving,especially when you are a fan of the book.It's obvious that Jack Ketchum's novel "The Girl Next Door" is far more disturbing and horrifying than this adaptation,but I think that it was impossible for the makers to capture the sheer power of Ketchum's work.Still the sad story of tortured and horribly abused Meg Loughlin is quite touching.Blanche Baker as the insane Ruth Chandler puts an amazing performance.She is a truly evil character.The film really goes as far as a more mainstream movie can go with its scenes of torture and domestic abuse.One scene in particular will probably make most of you ladies squirm.I have already mentioned Baker's terrifying performance but all of the actors deserve some praise.Usually kids in movies annoy the hell out of me but not this time.Give this film a look,but don't forget to read the book.Perhaps it's time to make a film adaptation of "Lets Go Play at the Adams" by Mendal Johnson,but I seriously doubt that it will happen.9 out of 10..
It is grim and undeniably hard to watch and the fact it is based on a true story makes it even more shocking and it's a sad fact that things like this went on and still go on.You may ask why make a film like this.
The Girl Next Door explores the horrors of extreme mental, physical, psychological and sexual child abuse in a way I've never seen before.This movie is absolutely chilling.
Overall it was a great movie with decent acting and a must watch if you can stomach the torture and abuse.
Normally, when a film is allegedly based on real events, it means that something might have inspired the film, but has been massively changed to make it more 'Hollywood.' However, here it looks like this pretty much happened the way it's portrayed here.Two young girls' parents die and they're forced to live with their aunt and her sons.
It is the story of a boy that witnesses the cruel and senseless torture of a neighbor girl at the hands of her horrible Aunt and cousins whom she and her sister was sent to live with after the death of her parents.As far as the technical aspect of this film are concerned (acting, writing, editing, etc.) this movie ranks about a 6 out of 10.
It's the kind of movie that you will watch even if at times you want to fast forward or look away, in hopes the cavalry will be coming through the door at any moment.
After the exceedingly slow start the film turned into a real Drama and was definitely one of the most disturbing things I've seen and will ever see in my life time.
Really big fan of the torture films, however, this is not as gruesome as hostel where you just wanna see bucket loads of blood, this is not like that at all, its hard to describe in words but you do really feel for the victim and want it to end but at the same time you want more, there really are some scenes that are disturbing (the one with the blowtorch springs to mind) but it doesn't show you, which is worse because your mind just goes through all the scenarios.
I'm sure you all know the story by now, so I'll save you that.If you want to watch this movie, I recommend it beyond all belief.
You want to look away but you can't help watching.While movie as a whole is good it is far from perfect, I think it leaves such an impression due to the horrific instances shown rather than the expertise of those involved in making this film.
If you were to read the synopsis of this movie and see words like "kidnapping" "torture" "gang rape" and "extreme sexual violence", you might be forgiven for thinking it was a low budget horror film.
The film is based on a true story that took place in the 50's about two sisters that gets abused by their aunt, the aunt is a lunatic and goes ballistic on the girls while the younger kids just watch and some even join in.
There are torture scenes in this movie which is disturbing and yet engrossing to watch.