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.

Without trying to sound like I’m bragging, I have to say that it takes a lot for a film to get to me.

With a lot of Horror fans there’s the common problem of desensitization. When you’ve watched so many Horror films the shock of certain things loses its impact on you and what others may view as disturbing, you may see as hilarious.

There’s also a certain disconnect sometimes when you know that it’s essentially, well, just a film. It’s all make up, effects, camera work and such, but every now and then a film will come along and remind you just how powerful it can all be.

This film is exactly that, it’s more than a punch to the gut, it’s a knock out uppercut. I was constantly squirming in my seat from feeling so uncomfortable watching it and I felt a wave of disgust at what was happening on screen, disturbed really.

We’re not talking about zombies or slashers here, this is horror of a different kind. This is the sadistic torture that humans can inflict on others and it’s not pretty. The shock value here is different, there’s no jump scares, just painful reality.

“The Girl Next Door” does not make for easy viewing, it will leave a lasting impression on you and you can’t reverse it. If you are easily shocked then don’t watch this film, I’m serious, this is not for the faint hearted.

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If you want to see “The Girl Next Door” trailer then just click on the video below:

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Miscellaneous facts about the film:

This film is based on a true case. In 1965, teenage Sylvia Likens was beaten, starved, and taunted by her former neighbourhood friends and by her caregiver. While her sister survived, Sylvia died from all the trauma and the case was brought to trial, raising awareness of child abuse and bullying.

Jack Ketchum chose to write the book from the first-person perspective of the neighbor because the real case had some things he was mortified with that he didn’t want to include.

Adult David (William Atherton) never speaks a word himself. All his dialogue is through narration.

In the backyard tent scene where the boys are looking at the “Playboy” magazine, they refer to 1950s actress and pinup girl Carroll Baker, the real-life mother of actress Blanche Baker, who portrays Ruth Chandler in this movie.

“The most wearing scene? All the scenes in which I am hung up and blindfolded,” asserts Blythe Auffarth. “It’s extremely humiliating and it’s a little bit scary being so without control. It’s scary being helpless and it’s humiliating hanging and dangling there, and it’s even more petrifying to have your senses taken away from you. I actually was blindfolded and I couldn’t see, and so you’re relying on your ability to hear and also trust those around you and the ways in which they deal with you. … That wasn’t anything that was acting–that was pure torture, no pun intended.”

Madeline Taylor’s debut.

Released the same year (2007) that another move (An American Crime, staring Elliot Page) based on the real life case this movie is based upon.

Jack Ketchum the author of the book on which this film is based appears as the carnival ticket-taker.