Title: Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next DoorDirector: Gregory Wilson
Starring: Blythe Auffarth, Daniel Manche, Blanche Baker
Runtime: 91
Year: 2007
The 1950's have been painted as this sweet and innocent decade thanks to Coca Cola ads and Leave it to Beaver. The Girl Next Door rips it apart within minutes.
We are first introducted to David, an older man trying to deal with the guilt he has surrounding the torture and death surrounding a childhood friend of his. That friend being Meg and her sister Susan. Following the death of their parents the sisters live with Auntie Ruth and her three sons. She's viewed as the 'too kind' woman on the block that all the neighbour boys viewed as one of the guys. Laid back, full of wisdom and a fridge stacked with beer she's more than willing to share with the pre-teens.
Right away it becomes quite clear that Ruth is not so fond of other women, herself included, she's bitter and has no trust in grown men. Which I'm sure explains her choice in surrounding herself with young boys that know no better. Ruth has taken a particular interest in disliking Meg and finding creative ways to teach her lifes little lessons with the boys of the neighbour fully involved in 'the game'.
Once the torture starts, the whole tone of the movie changes. It's incredible to see the gradual changes with Aunt Ruth's demeanor. Any remaining part of a sympathetic, loving person slowly disappears entirely and all that is left is this vile hate machine. Blanche Baker plays this whole amazingly well, she really makes it all come together, along with her talented young co-stars.
I read this book a while ago and was never able to shake it, let alone that there was more than one moment where I had to put it down for a few days. The ways they torture this poor young girl is unbelievable and although we see more and more torture driven movies being released, this is possibly more horrifying than some can handle. Even though we don't see some parts of what is happening, we know the horrors of what is going on.
Quite a few parts are really hard to watch, but you feel you are commited to finishing the film. I can't imagine walking out on this story, I'd feel I cheated the characters.
Proceed with caution, but do see this release if you get the opportunity to do so.
Recommended.
j
6 comments:
I couldn't agree with you more. This is something you just can't take your eyes off of. Me and a friend were watching this, and people coming into the room would take one look at the screen then be unable to move. You just HAVE to know where it's going, and what will happen next.
All in all, I appreciated it. Buuuut, it's something I definitely won't sit through again.
I put up like 3 or 4 reviews in the past couple of days, which is a lot....for me. Ha. Head on over there and give them a look when you get the chance. Of course, there's some horror goodness.
I bought the DVD while I was there [and got it signed too, weee!] but yeah, no so sure I'll watch it again. But I'll subject others to it, that's for sure.
pssst. Update your blog more, CG!
Haven't seen either of these yet but I love Ketchum's books.
Just a question: have you actually watched Leave it to Beaver? It's one of my all time favorite shows and I can never understand why people constantly use it as an example of fluffy 50's. In my opinion it is very accurate in portraying children, and I mean of any era. Some of the show's moralizing is a bit heavy handed and dated, and of course Barbara Billingsly in her 24 hour pearls and gardening gloves isn't 100% accurate, but I truly believe this to be one of the best, most honestly written TV shows ever. Especially the first few seasons.
Hello Jo? Where'd ya go?
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