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The Girl Next Door | 
 enlarge | Director: Gregory Wilson
Actors: William Atherton, Blanche Baker, Grant Show, Catherine Mary Stewart, Kevin Chamberlin
Studio: ANCHOR BAY
Category: DVD
List Price: $26.98
Buy New: $7.58
You Save: $19.40 (72%)
New (42) Used (18) Collectible (1) from $7.58
Avg. Customer Rating:  66 reviews
Sales Rank: 2760
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: R (Restricted)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 91
Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.3 x 0.6
MPN: DV15596
UPC: 013131559699
EAN: 0013131559699
ASIN: B000WC38EQ
Theatrical Release Date: 2007
Release Date: December 4, 2007
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: BRAND NEW - FACTORY SEALED
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Amazon.com
Based on the novel by acclaimed author Jack Ketchum, The Girl Next Door draws its nerve-wracking power from a real-life horror show--the torture of Sylvia Likens and her sister by Gertrude Baniszewski and her offspring in the mid-1960s (the case also serves as the basis for the film An American Crime). Here, the Likens character is a recently orphaned teen (Blythe Auffarth) taken in by Ruth Chandler (Blanche Baker), a single mother who plies her adolescent sons and their friends with alcohol and lax supervision. Ruth takes an almost instant disliking to the bright young girl and her sister (who is afflicted with polio) and mounts a campaign of mental and physical abuse upon them; her sons quickly fall into step behind their mother, and a neighborhood friend (Daniel Manche) struggles with his own participation in the atrocities. As true crime thrillers go, The Girl Next Door succeeds on many fronts: Baker and Auffarth give impressive performances, and the violence, though harrowing, is never offered as exploitation. Director Gregory Wilson also keeps the pace brisk and breathtaking as the torture escalates; however, he is less capable in the expositional scenes, and the script by Daniel Farrands and Philip Nutman has a leaden ring at times (which undoes the efforts of the younger cast). Still, it's challenging fare for strong-hearted horror and suspense fans. The DVD includes two sets of commentary: one by Wilson, producer Andrew van den Houten, and cinematographer/co-producer William M. Miller, and another by Ketchum and the screenwriters, who pull no punches in expressing their displeasure over changes made to the film's conclusion (and their assessments are entirely correct). Interviews with the cast and crew and the original screenplay (in DVD-ROM format) round out the supplemental features. --Paul Gaita
Product Description
In a quiet suburban town in the summer of 1958 two recently orphaned sisters are placed in the care of their mentally unstable Aunt Ruth (Emmy winner Blanche Baker of HOLOCAUST). But Ruth s depraved sense of discipline will soon lead to unspeakable acts of abuse and torture that involve her young sons the neighborhood children and one 12-year-old boy whose life will be changed forever. William Atherton (DIE HARD) Catherine Mary Stewart (NIGHT OF THE COMET) and Grant Show (MELROSE PLACE) co-star in this devastating drama adapted from the controversial best seller by Jack Ketchum that Rue Morgue Magazine called one of the most disturbing reads in the history of horror literature. System Requirements:Length: 97 minsFormat: DVD MOVIE Genre: TELEVISION/MADE FOR TV MOVIES Rating: R UPC: 013131559699 Manufacturer No: DV15596
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| Customer Reviews: Read 61 more reviews...
 The systematic destruction of something innocent and beautiful October 1, 2008
This got to me, although I've already seen "An American Crime" and am familiar with true story this was based on. the story of Sylvia Likens, the worst torture murder ever to take place in the state of Indiana.
Like I said, it was loosely based on a true story, the people who actually did this were even more monstrous still and the death of Sylvia Likens was even more tragically pointless. It makes me angry that they were given leniant sentences as permitted to continue breathing. Sylvia's torture lasted for three months. Fiction as it tends to be, is softened by the author in a quest for some sort of overall meaning, something that will make a difficult story okay. No one wants to read a pointless book about the some of the most vile people to walk the earth and hear of their suffering without gleaning some sort of meaning from it. Jack Ketchum did well in this respect, and this is my first acquaintance with his work.
Be warned, the true story, if you do decide to read it, is very grim. Lots of people saw what was going on but chose to ignore it. Sylvia spent her last night alive pounding on the basement floor with a shovel trying to get someone to help her. The neighbors heard, and were disturbed by the noise, but none of them called the police. The things they did to her and made her do are unthinkably horrible. Her body was covered with 150 plus cigarette burns, she bit through her lip so hard it was partially severed. So many elements make this into a nightmare. I took what light I could from a couple of small parts. Sylvia, her last night alive bravely telling her sister Jenny that "she knew Jenny didn't want her to die, but she was going to. She could feel it." And Sylvia telling that awful Gertrude to feed her stupid crackers to the dog who was "hungrier than her" her last night alive.
All in all, good adaptation, it was nice to see someone trying to protect her. No one helped the real Sylvia Likens.
 Watch an American Crime Instead September 25, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
Unlike An American Crime this isn't a faithful adaptation, but more kiddie snuff porn with an academic leftist feminist propaganda bent to it. I would argue that this is for perverts with an agenda, (not necessarily that of compassion). Esp. given how relentlessly this script tried to force all kinds of Hollywood political correctness upon this story: For example they switched this to the 1950s when it took place in the '60s. It's ironically, of course, set in a clean peaceful luxurious suburb, which Hollywood always-nudge nudge wink wink-insists contains hidden evils. In reality this story took place in utter squalor; the single mother who commited this crime lived in such desperate squalor that her brood had to take turns sharing three spoons, stole clothes off other peoples lines, and vegetables out of other people's gardens.
This film endlessly tries to pound home the dangers of "patriarchy" when the reality was that this was a single mother doing and instigating all the abuse. (BTW women actually commit the majority of child abuse, not men.) And in reality, you should know, that while this girl was sexually humiliated, starved and and physically tortured to death, she was not raped and her clitoris was not burned off. The villain of this specific movie, who kind of reminded me of a campy Divine character, is given almost word for word speeches from Kate Millet's disingenuous feminist polemic on the real events. (Which makes you wonder who really hates women.)
And while thank God Laws have been passed since to protect children, keep in mind that the real life situation that Sylvia Lykens suffered and was immolated in is actually closer to the foster family situations that the government forces children into after taking them away from their families.
If out of human compassion you want to see the unimaginable ordeal of Sylvia Likens, watch An American Crime. (A film Which also screams for chivalry, personal responsibility and an abadonment of herd mentality-something so needed in the era of political correctness.) However, even An American Crime is not 100% faithful, because the reality of what happened to the actual victim is too horrible to be shown. But Girl Next Door is some of the most evil exploitation. It does nothing to honor the real Likens. Don't really know what to call it.
Faithful Adaptation September 23, 2008
Having read THE GIRL NEXT DOOR by Jack Ketchum a year or two ago, I was mentally prepared for this one going into it. Anyone like me who has daughters is more than likely to feel more than a bit gut-wrenched after this. But aside from the extreme content, this film was actually well made. The aunt's slow almost unnoticeable descent into madness was expertly done and the film was not watered down, but rather captured the theme of the loss of innocence and the horrors of a mass hysteria of sorts.
It truly is mind boggling and depressing to dwell on the fact that this is based on a true event, and this is probably not the best date film or family night motion picture event. Get ready for some serious disturbia. The acting is great by some and not-so-great by others, but overall it was pulled off well and is a must-see for any Ketchum fans and those who enjoy real life extreme crime thrillers .
Good but Tough to Watch September 9, 2008
I want to say that I enjoyed this movie, but that would be a bad choice of words. the abuse and torture seem very real. The subject matter is very strong and the movie is well executed. It is difficult to watch at times, but worth the effort. The movie evokes real emotion and it difficult to comprehend that this really happened. I highly recommend this movie if you can take it. Not for the squeamish or very sensitive.
TGND September 7, 2008
The first thing I noticed about The Girl Next Door was it's excellent production values. I have read so much about it being a "shocking, low budget production", that I envisioned something rather cheap and nasty.
But this wasn't so. It's a brilliantly photographed, excellently acted and well written horror film that doesn't deserve the notoriety it is receiving.
There are a lot of reference between this film and Stand By Me, and they are justified. Although, this is something more. TGND presents a sense of dread from it's opening scenes. It then flashes backwards to a beautiful shot of a 12 year old boy fishing for yabbies (I'm an Aussie) and befriending an older girl.
The TGND takes it's time to evolve to the horror of where the film is headed, but this is what I loved about it. It's the interaction between the characters that makes it compelling.
Ignore the who-ha about this being some exploitation flick. It's a brilliant film. Disturbing and brilliant.
The fact that it's based on a true story just adds to the film's intensity.
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