The Girl Next Door (2007)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Lady D

  
  The strange thing about this film is that the acting (particularly from the main character) didn't start off great, but it does improve through the film. It's shocking that this was a true story and actions that took place are truly disturbing.

• Unknown H

  
  I watched this movie after I saw it on a list of the most disturbing movies ever made and although it was definatly not Disney I think my expecations were built higher than the film actually delivered. Still it was worth the watch and a good movie to have on DVD to scare your slightly… More
  I watched this movie after I saw it on a list of the most disturbing movies ever made and although it was definatly not Disney I think my expecations were built higher than the film actually delivered. Still it was worth the watch and a good movie to have on DVD to scare your slightly harder to bore friends on movie night.

• Film C

  
  its really sad that this movie is based on a true story but this movie jus irritated me! the portrayal of characters werejust annoying and i felt more frustrated then any other emotion! this movie failed ithink to capture the emotion that this actual story deserves!

• Brian D

  
  Starts off innocently like a nice time warp back to the 50's but after awhile it turn nasty. A great movie with a hard to watch story line and wont be to everyone's taste.The direction is good and it could of been more graphic but it was't and some things left to your… More
  Starts off innocently like a nice time warp back to the 50's but after awhile it turn nasty. A great movie with a hard to watch story line and wont be to everyone's taste.The direction is good and it could of been more graphic but it was't and some things left to your own mind......which can be worst.The Two leads are fantastic and watch able, There is another movie dealing with the same story called American crime which deals with the true life story that this was based on and is worth checking out too. But this one is so worth your time and effort so check out this one first.;

• Steve K

  
  After all the hype, I couldn't help but be disappointed. But it's not all my fault. The film feels like a TV movie with f-bombs. Even the depravity feels somehow sterilized. The young lady playing Meg cannot be faulted, she was quite good given what little she had to… More
  After all the hype, I couldn't help but be disappointed. But it's not all my fault. The film feels like a TV movie with f-bombs. Even the depravity feels somehow sterilized. The young lady playing Meg cannot be faulted, she was quite good given what little she had to work with. And it was a hoot to see Blanche Baker again for the first time (for me anyways) since Sixteen Candles. I know the film/book was based on true events, and that knowledge helps the film to a point. Alas, it ultimately comes across more as an interesting curio rather than a compelling film. While I felt sorry for Meg, I never took her plight seriously.

• _kelly .

  
  A truly scary serious drama. Between the kids' acting and the timeless villainess of Ruth, this is a definite keeper. It's real, it's brutal, and it's well paced. There are a few plot holes, but that may have been lack of attention span on my part, in which case… More
  A truly scary serious drama. Between the kids' acting and the timeless villainess of Ruth, this is a definite keeper. It's real, it's brutal, and it's well paced. There are a few plot holes, but that may have been lack of attention span on my part, in which case the detail was too subtle but some of the plot clumsiness is intentional (SPOILER: Who sent the main character that painting? is the biggest hole). I was also sickened by the forced sentimentality of the girl's death; it just ruined what could have been otherwise a hard and sickening scene. SPOILER OVER<br/><br/>Overall, a great realistic depiction of derangement and child torture. The Ruth character is truly tops, and this movie needs to be seen just to experience her insanity. "So Fucked Up" highlight: any of Ruth's dialogue

• Luke B

  
  Not to be confused with the delightful rom-com of the same name this is an entirely different film. Sick, sadistic and mind numbingly horrific are just a few words to describe the acts that happen in this film but not the film itself. Gore hounds may be dissapointed by the decision to… More
  Not to be confused with the delightful rom-com of the same name this is an entirely different film. Sick, sadistic and mind numbingly horrific are just a few words to describe the acts that happen in this film but not the film itself. Gore hounds may be dissapointed by the decision to keep the acts a little less graphic than say Saw or Hostel but it certainly makes for a harder hit. Based on a true story this amplifies the fact that crimes of this nature have always happened and evil really can lurk anywhere. A bit short and doesn't get to the root of certain issues, this is still a brave and brilliant film.

• David L

  
  This a film that is based on the case of Sylvia Likens and the book by Jack Ketchum. His book is one of the few books I've ever read that was hard to finish because I was so disturbed by it. Even more so when I knew it was based on actual events. I heard the book was going to… More
  This a film that is based on the case of Sylvia Likens and the book by Jack Ketchum. His book is one of the few books I've ever read that was hard to finish because I was so disturbed by it. Even more so when I knew it was based on actual events. I heard the book was going to made into a film and I said it was not possible, but the film was made and it turns out to be a good adaptation of the book but its a film thats very hard to watch. The movie is low budget, as something containing this subject matter could never get the big budget glossy treatment, but cast and crew have done a great job. So technically despite the low budget everything is top notch, which makes what goes on even more disturbing. And like I said the fact that it is true. I don't really feel the need to give the plot rundown. You can read about the case online and figure out for yourself if you want to see the film but as I stated before, be warned This is a very difficult watch. Not because it's a bad movie, because it's a good one. It's not anyone's idea of entertainment but I do think movies like this should be made, if not done in an exploitive way, which is what I think the filmmakers have managed to avoid here.

• A.D. V

  
  Call it morbid curiosity or masochism but I had to see the adaptation of the one of the very few novels to really disturb me. The film wasn't as much but it was enough. It's brutal and sad (I admit I teared up near the end) and all the worse that it was based on a true… More
  Call it morbid curiosity or masochism but I had to see the adaptation of the one of the very few novels to really disturb me. The film wasn't as much but it was enough. It's brutal and sad (I admit I teared up near the end) and all the worse that it was based on a true story. I can't rave Blythe Auffarth enough for taking on such a tough role.

• Jacob P

  
  This is no horror movie...This is just plain disturbing, sad, upsetting. No sweet\nice teenage girl should be tortured this badly by her own family. Although i have to give credit for the outstanding acting from the mom and because Jack Ketchum directed it. Another thing is that it is… More
  This is no horror movie...This is just plain disturbing, sad, upsetting. No sweet\nice teenage girl should be tortured this badly by her own family. Although i have to give credit for the outstanding acting from the mom and because Jack Ketchum directed it. Another thing is that it is based on true events...which is pretty horrible.

• Alex M

  
  I rarely find American films that I can call truly disturbing. Deadgirl was somewhat up there, but nothing like this movie. The Girl Next Door is fucked up. It was definitely entertaining, making good use of pacing, mystery, and sadism. And Christ, did it have a sick villain. Ruth was… More
  I rarely find American films that I can call truly disturbing. Deadgirl was somewhat up there, but nothing like this movie. The Girl Next Door is fucked up. It was definitely entertaining, making good use of pacing, mystery, and sadism. And Christ, did it have a sick villain. Ruth was a complete monster in ever sense of the term. I found myself both enjoying her, and hoping for her death at the same time. If you believe in God, or that deep down all people are good, watch this movie. Then reflect on the fact that it's based on a true story.

• Yinalí R

  
  This movie was too much to take.

• John M

  
  "Girl Next Door" is a moving, inhumane and twisted story that is based in a true crime. The acting is very good and each of the cast members did more than a good job.

• Ed Fucking H

  
  I've always been one who prefers realism in my horror and this is a good example of why. It starts off innocently enough, and I really wasn't prepared for where it was going. I had known about the films reputation but didn't see how it was leading up to that until it… More
  I've always been one who prefers realism in my horror and this is a good example of why. It starts off innocently enough, and I really wasn't prepared for where it was going. I had known about the films reputation but didn't see how it was leading up to that until it started. It's hard to believe but this is apparently based on a true story. How a guardian could be this sadistic and all the kids in the neighborhood apparently without concience or remorse boggles me but there you have it. I've heard some criticisms that the film isn't gory enough as most of the violence is off screen and implied, but I have to say the movie is upsetting enough as it is. Plus do you really want to some of the acts committed against this young girl in graphic detail. I sure as hell don't. Definently a horror that sticks with you after it ends, and probably the most intresting and effective American torture films to come out in recent years. Recommended.

• Adam M

  
  Drama based on true events about a young girl who was tortured, raped and eventually killed by her aunty and some local young boys in Indiana in the 60's. It's shocking stuff, hard to believe someone could be as cruel as Blanche Baker's character, who's chilling… More
  Drama based on true events about a young girl who was tortured, raped and eventually killed by her aunty and some local young boys in Indiana in the 60's. It's shocking stuff, hard to believe someone could be as cruel as Blanche Baker's character, who's chilling performance could make her one of films biggest bitches ever, but it happened and thats what makes this one of the darkest coming-of-age films i've seen.

• Barry L

  
  What an absolutely horrendous almost wholly true story of the abuse, sexual assault and eventual murder of a young girl by her deranged, sadistic aunt in 50's America. Be prepared to be seriously disturbed at parts of this, the abuse of the 12 year old girl sister...I cringed… More
  What an absolutely horrendous almost wholly true story of the abuse, sexual assault and eventual murder of a young girl by her deranged, sadistic aunt in 50's America. Be prepared to be seriously disturbed at parts of this, the abuse of the 12 year old girl sister...I cringed throughout. Absolutely unbeleivable acting by some very young stars to be.

• Alice S

  
  Exaggerated in order to shock the viewer ... against logic and common sense. Despite being inspired from a real case, looks like an evil witch story.

• paganchild1979 p

  
  It made me cry. To think this happens all over and nothing is done to help those in need.

Read all 18 featured audience ratings