The Girl Next Door
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Movie Reviews of The Girl Next Door
Movie Review: An Impressive Fictionalized Account of a True Horror Story
Summary: 5 Stars
"Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door" is a film following the book of the same name. Both the movie and book were loosely based on the infamous Gertrude Baniszewski murder of Sylvia Likens that took place in Indiana in the 1960's.
If you watch this movie, you may be under the impression that it is over the top in terms of its horrific scenes. However, if you read about the true life case, you'll see that the movie is in fact not as bad in certain instances than the actual brutality that took place. In the true case, Baniszewski and her young accomplices actually made Likens eat her own feces and used a hot sewing needle to do the branding. Amazingly enough, Baniszewski only spent 14 years in jail for the tragic crime before being paroled.
As far as the movie goes, it is excellent. The acting is superb: Blythe Auffarth does a superb job in the title role and Blanche Baker plays the diabolical murderess in outstanding fashion. Viewers will definitely feel sorry for the victim and despise the monster who did her in due to the exemplary performances. And, although the movie goes off the track of the Indiana case, it is an outstanding ally to Ketchum's fictionalized account in print. Furthermore, it is just as shocking in terms displaying the depravities humans are capable of committing.
If you can stand the horror, you'll want to check this one out. On a side note, as an alternative, you can also see Ellen Page play Likens in the more fact-based "An American Crime", another movie from 2007 (which debuted at Sundance) inspired by the same true event.
Movie Review: What film making used to be about...
Summary: 5 Stars
I recently read Jack Ketcham's book "The Girl Next Door", this book was one of the FIRST books I can truly say chilled me to the core of my soul. The reason this book effected me so deeply is the fact that it was based on true events. This book encouraged me to investigate further into the crime. The case involved Gertie Baniskewski, her many children, and some neighborhood children. I found the true story to be more shocking due to the fact it occurred in my hometown(Indiana), also it was more disturbing due to the fact there were numerous opportunities where someone could have stopped the abuse. The true events that happened differ from the movie, but the moral doesn't change.
However, I must change my former stance after viewing the film. Watching the film seemed more comfortable then reading the book, because the scenes that Mr. Ketcham evokes are nondescriptive. When you watch the film you are tempted to put modern solutions to a past problem, but you cannot, this film is about a time when innocence was still existent.
I feel everyone should(excluding anyone under 18) experience this film, because it accomplishes what manyy filmakers today cannot do, and that is to get people discussing the film content. The film stays with you like the book, it opens different parts of you because there are no black and white answers, since this film was based upon a time when most people were considered above reproach.
Movie Review: Great Translation From Book to Film!!
Summary: 5 Stars
I'm purposely not going into detail about the movie, as others have done so already. But for those who've read and loved the book, you won't be disappointed with the movie version. It stuck fairly close, except for the ending...which really wasn't a big deal and didn't have any dramatic effect on the outcome of the story. Since I'd read the book already, nothing was that shocking to me. But my girlfriend who hadn't seen it yet, she had to turn her head away at times...and understandable so.
My only gripe was the character who played Meg looked Puerto Rican, when it was supposed to be a redhead. And I thought the girl was crippled from the accident, not polio (but I could be wrong). Other than that it was a fair translation of a film that took about 9 years to make (due to the subject matter).
The bonus material wasn't bad, but I expected a bit more. Maybe a few deleted scenes. But the commentary that went with the film was great, and the interviews and "making of" were enlightening as we learned the struggles it took to get the film made.
Overall a great movie, disturbing as it is, that shows the real boogieman, or monster, that lurks in your neighborhood doesn't necessarily take the form you might expect.
Movie Review: absolutly deprave and disgusting
Summary: 5 Stars
i worked almost five years in a hospital emergency room; this movie is just plain everyday day routine for anyone who works in a emergency room; you lose all faith and hope for "human nature." both jack ketchum's book that has the same title as well as this film are, an exercise in lifting the lid off of the top hell and looking inside. most people will see only the physical abuse, and be horrified by that. that is the superficial aspects of this crime. the worst aspects of this crime is that is was not one crime, but many crimes commited by every chacter in this film. everyone of the chacters in this film lives in denial. everyone of the chacters in this film is a liar. what makes this film so horrifying is that in each of the chacters we see our co-workers, friends, members' of our church, the peole who run our schools, and most horrifying of all we see ourselfs. that, is, the lie we all tell ourselfs, that, we, are, "good people" who could never do any of the crimes seen in this film; oh, really? this film, is a film, that asks hard ethical and moral questions about the lies we tell ourselfs about ourselfs, and other people around us. this film was made to move us, to make changes for the better in both ourselfs, and the world in which we live. do we have the courge, and the will to do that?Movie Review: Coming from an extreme gore hound, I feel violated and dirty.
Summary: 5 Stars
What starts out as a light hearted drama such as "Stand by Me" takes a turn into "Flowers in the Attic" meets "Hostel". Inspired by the true events of Sylvia Likens, I have never felt so ashamed to have watched a movie regarding this genra. King quoted it was the most shocking thing he had seen since "Henry" however, I believe Henry is practically G rated compaired to this. This movie takes you into the dark relms of child abuse, without pulling away from multiple rapes, burnings, cuttings, and beatings of a teenage girl. The writer/director used a shock factor that I believe was needed and the shock factor was showing society the not so sugar coated reality of child abuse. I did not think the performance of the aunt was spectacular until the end when I saw her mood change from leaving the basement to speaking to the cops at her front door, as far as the rest of the characters are concerned they did wonderful jobs, especially the girl who portrayed the life of Sylvia. So a note of advice, do not watch this if you are easily disturbed, keep away from children and the elderly, most of all don't watch on a first date.