Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door

Lucifer_666 · Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door

I'm really looking forward to seeing this film and before anyone says it ...no its not because I have a sadistic edge to me or I like torture because that simply ain't true the reason is because I have heard some great reviews about it here's one (Sorry I can't remember where I got this review from to credit it

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Think you know pain? You don’t know shit. Sylvia Likens knew pain. In 1958 she was locked in the basement of her foster home, and tortured for weeks and weeks, until she was dead. She was starved, denied the use of a bathroom, forced to eat her own excrements, raped, and beaten by the kids of the neighborhood. Her foster family would invite kids over from the neighborhood to drink beers, smoke cigarettes, burn and penetrate a tied up 13 year old girl in the cellar, as long as they didn’t tell anyone. It went on for around three months, until poor Sylvia Likens died. It was, as someone at the actual trial had stated, "the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana".

Jack Ketchum took that actual event and tweaked it into The Girl Next Door, a novel that puts you through what Sylvia Likens went through in the form of a sweet young girl named Meg. Anyone who has read Ketchum knows that Stephen King praises his work, and that once he has a hold on your gut, he doesn't let go - he takes things in his writing to realms very few have ever gone - where most people do not want to look. When producer Andrew van den Houten (director of Headspace and president of ModernCine) informed me that they were going to shoot The Girl Next Door, I couldn't help but ask. "How are you going to get the elements of what made Ketchum's novel so assaulting onto film and still get an R rating? To water it down drains it of its lifeforce, and to reflect it is absolutely taboo and has to be too offensive for the MPAA..." Houten assured me that they had captured the elements of the novel and was faithful that although it was a drama of sorts, it would definitely appeal to horror fans, as did the book. "Its human horror," he said. "Ill be pushing the envelope - because I think this movie deserves to be as edgy as possible."

I was doubtful heading into the premiere in New York City, where Jack Ketchum, cast and crew, and press alike, were all in attendance for its first ever showing. Houten gave a brief introduction, and it began. Halfway through, a few people walked out of the theater. I don’t know who they were, or what they were expecting, but it offended them deeply. Couldn't help but like that. At a very gut-wrenching point near the end of the film, the woman next to me muttered something in a disheveled, upset stammer. She said, "Oh Lord, please kill that poor child." She was fighting back tears. My mouth was agape at what they were showing, or implying. I remembered Houten saying in an interview some months back, "The State of New Jersey thought that we were using like a 13 year old girl to play Meg (who in the film is raped and nude in some scenes). They were ready to shut us down when they read the screenplay. They thought that we were gonna have a naked 13 year old being tortured in the basement." Well, it may not be, but that’s how it looks. Upon walking out of the theater at the end, I have to say, having read the book, it’s a near dead on adaptation that will bring the book to life for those that have read it as well. The in-your-face power of GND will take many aback, and taboo-wise, I’m absolutely shocked with what they managed to get past an R rating.

Greg Wilson's direction and William Miller's cinematography were both effective and key to the contrast of good and evil in Ketchum's Girl Next Door - reminiscent of David Lynch's Blue Velvet. The contrast in that film of good people to bad was so differential that it made each other just seem that much more deeply planted on either side of the fence. In GND, the sunny, bright, innocent 1950's summer days are chock full of ice cream and carnival - everyone glowing under the sun in their youth. Then the scenes in the basement, surrounded by grey, featureless cold stone, in the dank darkness of Ruth's cellar. The beers and the smoking - as children from 8-18 are lined up for a cold hearted, dysfunctional mind's carnival of sin and evil - these same boys find themselves frenzied like cats with injured birds - sharks at the scent of blood - partaking more than willingly in the tragedy at hand. Blythe Auffarth comes across on film exactly as she was supposed to, and then some. She glows with such an innocence and overwhelming, good hearted charm that it latches onto you in a way that lesser characterized stories fail - which is what makes this movie different than those like Hostel or Imprint. Whether it’s your thing or not, this film has heart.

For three months, Meg is locked down in the basement of Ruth's suburban home. Tied by her thumbs, hanging from a beam in the basement, she is starved, slapped, mentally abused, kicked, punched, cut, violated, beaten, has words burned into her, and is seared with a white hot blow torch in a way that will blow your mind. Women got up and walked out of the theater. Who could blame them? Jack Ketchum stories are like nightmares you can’t wake up from. It keeps going and going when it should have already stopped, but it doesn't, and soon your stomach is twisting and your mouth is agape. The gore is minimal. Very little is actually shown, which is why GND leans more towards being a drama. It’s a family story gone sickly, sickly wrong - as did the lives of Sylvia and Jenny Likens. But even though it’s light of red syrup and open wounds - it will brutally assault your mind. The fact that it’s based on a true story, mixed with half awkwardly witnessing six young boys poke and prod at a fellow, barely teenage girl, to the point of absolute torture and rape, is, I think, what had that woman next to me sobbing. Blythe Auffarth owns the role and you can feel in your guts how wrong it all is - how she more than most just doesn't deserve what happens to her, and you partially ache wishing you could do something to make it stop.

Such is the dilemma of Davey, played by Daniel Manche, who put on a subtle but emotionally hardcore performance that glues this film together and keeps it real. He has a sort of self-unadmitted liking for Meg, and has her in his thoughts as well as the corner of his eye. Then the signs begin. Meg soon seems unhappy, then hungry, and it’s not long before Davey witnesses her and her crippled sister slapped around - not just by his friends' mom Ruth, but by his friends as well. After a while Meg disappears, and Davey soon discovers that she's been tied up in the basement, and they're playing "The Game" with her. You go in and out of this basement with Davey, and back home, as he tries to tell his ignorant parents, and then struggles between curiosity, loyalty to lifelong friends, and the twisted mind games of Ruth, trying to decide what to do. Each time he returns, he is appalled by what he sees, as we, the viewers, see as well. Each time its worse, and your senses begin to "dread". Dread of what you have to go back and see they’ve done or are doing to Meg in that basement.

Much of it is spun by Ruth, played by Blanche Baker. She puts the whole kit and caboodle behind the words "absolute BITCH". From her sunken in and wrinkled, cigarette shriveled appearance - to her twisted, shitty mind - it’s been a long time since we've seen such a despicable character on screen. Peeling strips of skin from her body with a set of pliers until she was dead wouldn’t be justice for this woman. Blanche Baker is another acting pillar in this film, and though somehow off at some points in a way I can’t put my finger on, her performance absolutely injects you with massive, bowel churning irritation. The one problem with Jack Ketchum's Girl Next Door - as it applies to horror fans in particular - sort of exists as a result of all the powerful acting in this movie. You end up hating this scumbag of a witch so much that the ending is just a bit too soft for some of us. GND sort of leaves true horror fans with blueballs. You want to see Ruth gets hers SO BADLY and SO VIOLENTLY that when it finally does happen, you’re left with a clunk on the head and a pent up frustration. Aside from this blemish, GND is excellently disturbing. It puts dreadful, angry, and uncomfortable energy into you, and toys with your emotions in dark ways, and in that respect, horror fans will find vitamins in this film - but I still hope for an alternate ending in the future where we can view it with the skull cracking, brain sac spilling finale a lot of us wished for in the corner of our minds.

Final Analysis: It’s a drama, but it will twist your stomach and turn sunshine to gloom, so I can confidently say that horror fans will find value in this excellently produced indie film. It looks Hollywood, but goes places no MGM movie ever will. Jack Ketchum is a sick bar steward, and the darkness of his novel comes through the film like a black hole, sucking the light out of your heart under the camouflage of a 1950's Stand By Me story of the days of innocence. Quite opposite, I don’t think I've ever seen such a domestic hell, depicted in the 1950's, since perhaps Lynch and Blue Velvet. A lot of people who watch this will drop their jaws. Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door is powerful, dark, and ugly, disguising itself as a sweet family drama just down the street from Richie Cunningham and the rest of the Happy Days gang. Young nudity, young rape, Hostel for kids - this film breaks a lot of art taboos - depicting the extreme abuse of a young girl and the hands of some sick, lustful, abusive kids, and their sick, demented mom, who orchestrates the whole thing. It’s a gritty, unadulterated peer into a true story, and the filthy underbelly of a beast in America called child abuse. There are a lot of sparkling facets on this horror gem to indulge upon - for the intellectual and heartfelt to the perverted and mean - Greg Wilson's film manages to reflect appalling images and horror elements beyond belief by framing it in a fancy, art like 1950's film that infers more than it FX's. It brings messages to those who are conscious of the true evil of child abuse, chilling hearts along the way like a powerful negative horror-drama. Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door possesses professionalism and the power of stunning kick in the n u t s, which may just be enough to earn it a run on the silver screen.

roddglenn

Jesus that sounds horrendous. To think that they actually did those things to that poor little girl.

"the most terrible crime ever committed in the state of Indiana" ??? I would say the most terrible crime committed to a child EVER.

I've got a very strong stomach, but this just sounds too awful for words.

Catnapper

It's not a film I'd ever go and see and I can understand why people walked out. How could anyone do such terrible things to a child? If they were foster parents did they do that to all the children or just her?

Even if you don't get to see any graphic shots, just knowing that it's a true story is too horrible to think about.....it'll be interesting to read what other critics think about it.

Madamhoney

I think if I didn't know it was a true story I would actually find it quite a good film to be honest. In Hostel they didn't show a tremendous amount of gore and I didn't think it was necessary to show any actually because your imagination is often far more effective, especially if it is just suggested what is about to happen.

But as it's based on a true story I think I would be cringing the whole way through. I don't think I would go so far as to walk out or even cry but it would certainly be very disturbing.

Lucifer_666

Sorry everyone about yesaterday I was actually responding to this when I got interrupted.....but I did save what I wrote....

Is this not the definition of Horror though? Horror should be disturbing...in fact I miss the old Horror films that were disturbing at the time which is why I'm looking forward to this....Far too many horrors today depend on the same old format...its refreshing to see a film push boundaries and go out to truly shock

Madamhoney

Hmm, they should be disturbing perhaps but not in a 'that's completely sick and you should be put down' kind of way - LOL! Besides, for me I want a horror film that is scary not gross. I'm fed up of that kind of horror to be honest. Watching someone get tortured (whether you see all the gory details or not) isn't the same as getting creeped out by the thought of ghosties sneaking up on you!!

Catnapper

There are interviews with actors, people connected to the movie and an interview with Jack Ketchum himself here:

http://www.thegirlnextdoorfilm.com

You can see the trailer too.....nothing graphic but it gives a taster of the tone of the film.....I still wouldn't go and see it though.....

Lucifer_666

Sorry again people if it doesn't rain it pours...

I ended up having to change my keyboard because the I button went on my old one and that is one button that is very important to me

and then my net went down urrrgghhhhhhhhh

Anyway Honey I don't think there is anything completely gory in this film I think there will be alot implied in it...I think horror is mean't to creep you out and whats the most creepy part about this film is the fact we all know its based on a true story ...there really was sick friiggers like this and I find that scary in itself....don't get me wrong I enjoy the horrors you refer to too but they are very few and far between these days....good ones anyway and for me a horror film should shock and apaul me to the point that it even makes me question the motives of teens who are laughing at the corner as I walk out of the cinema....

The trailer looks great Cat...I really think this is going to be a great film...I'll have a better read of it later now

Catnapper

You have some strange probs at times Luc......maybe the I got worn out from overuse?

I didn't have time to read all the interviews but I want to see what the actors thought about filming it......especially the girl who plays Meg.

Lucifer_666

I know

it was strange wasn't it.. I thought that too...its not like I use the I button anymore than any other

I think you can tell the actress is older than 13 ...well from the ads anyway....

Madamhoney

Well, we all have different ideas don't we. That's not what I want from horror personally and I don't find stuff like that creepy just twisted. I'm not looking to be shocked by something, what's entertaining about that? The fun of horror is to be scared and it just doesn't scare me, even the thought there are people like that around, it's just not the right kind of scary really.

Lucifer_666

Well like I said before Honey I do like the horrors your talking about but the most distintive or memorable horrors to me when growing up were the ones that disturbed me the kind of horrors that made you think about it well after the movie was over...today I find the more supernatural ones a bit tame because I don't really believe it anymore or perhaps its just me getting older and wiser I don't know but I definitely think who you have to fear are those around us ...the living they are the ones that can turn your life into a living nightmare not some poltergeist or axe wielding bogeyman.

Madamhoney

I do believe in the supernatural though so find it scary. Sure I wouldn't like to be raped and murdered but it's not something that would haunt me for ages after if I saw it in a film. Whereas seeing something about the supernatural would have me wondering what that strange noise was in the middle of the night - LOL!
It isn't the thought of burglars when I'm on my own that scares me either but ghosts!

Lucifer_666

When was the last time you heard of a ghost killing a woman alone in her house Honey? But real people do it all the time......

I just find as I've gotten older these things scare me more than the paranormal cause they are much more likely...and it happens!!

Oh and you make me sound like a completel flake when you say about not getting scared when you see somebody raped or murdered in a film...neither do I

but this film is much more than that much more disturbing

Madamhoney

Death isn't the only thing in life to fear Luc, in fact, if you had ghosts spooking round your house night after night you might even think that death was a welcome relief!! I don't believe for one second that you wouldn't be scared if you were on your own and saw a ghost in your room, or heard noises coming from somewhere only to find your furniture had somehow managed to pile itself all up in the middle of the room.
That's miles more scary than some bloke trying to nick your telly.

Lucifer_666

Your right Honey if I did see a ghost it would scare the bejesus out of me I don't deny that but if I were to see pink elephants flying in through my windows too...... it would have a similar effect

What I'm stressing is its very unlikely to happen...yet a gang of homosexual thieves could break into my house looking for a gangbang then murder me...now thats possible....particularly as how cute I am too

Madamhoney

I thought we were talking about horror not comedy?!

Lucifer_666

It could happen......I could attract a load of homosexual men.....erm.......

how did we get intoo this conversation again?

Lucifer_666

I wrote this last night after watching the movie

Just after watching The Girl Next Door...I know.. hardly viewing for this time of season.... a couple of days before Xmas.. but I have been waiting to see it for a while and I got the chance to do so and I took it...
I have to say the film grabs you straight away with an opening narration very much like one of the later Stephen King films or mini series (or most of his books for that matter) which was a plus immediately as I love King.
The film then takes us back to the fifties and you can slowly see things develop where if you heard anything about the film at all you sort of know where its all leading ....however to say its disturbing would be an understatement...it doesn't show the explicitness of the acts of torture, rape and cruelty that you would see in a film like Hostel but with the clever editing, dialogue and top of the range acting from the actress Blythe Auffarth who plays Meg it really doesn't need to....its bad enough!!!
We follow mainly Daniel Manche's character David a young lad who lives next door and seems to be the only one of the gang that has a conscience.....you feel almost as sorry for him as you do for Meg and her sister throughout as he does try and help her early but his hands are really tied and with being a young lad he's trying to work out what is right and wrong particularly when you have a woman like Ruth whispering poison in everyone's ears..though he pretty much knows whats right. Speaking of the character Ruth (The two Girls Aunt and alot of the boys' Mother) it has to be said that Blanche Baker who plays the part is truly magnificent...she stole the film for me because she just personifies the character so brilliantly throughout...that you literally hate her in it and for that I loved her....yes I'm confused too

. Ruth really is just a despising and disturbing person who should never be allowed near children let alone rear them.I dare anyone to tell me when she lights up that blowtorch that they didn't at the very least cringe at the thought

urrgghhhh.
My only crotch with the film (thats probably a bad line to have continued from the last bit there with lol) was really the ending in a way as I would have liked to have heard more about what happened to the other characters afterwards, the community?, the parents?, the kids as they got older? even David who is narrating it as a much older man played by William Atherton (yes the annoying reporter who always gets a thump in the Die Hard Films

) speaks a bit about his life at the beginning but really reveals nothing else by the end?
Anyway with all that said it was still a top notch film that will make your heart pour out with sympathy for certain characters mainly Meg yet equally fill you with rage for such a dispicable human being that is Ruth who employs a mix of intimidation and sick reasoning to control the boys around her...
Well worth a watch but not for the screamish...be warned!!!

Catnapper

I've still never seen Hostel yet

I decided to keep the DVD and not give it away like I was going to do......though I don't know if I'd ever watch it! Even though you say the violence and torture isn't shown in The Girl Next Door.......it still wouldn't be something I'd watch cause I'd find it too disturbing. Just knowing it's based on a true story would make it even worse for me.

Good review though Luc

Lucifer_666

Thanks babe....... I had a feeling you may not want to see it Princess