The Girl Next Door
The Girl Next Door Image
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Metascore
29 out of 100

Generally unfavorable reviews - based on 5 Critics What's this?

User Score
7.4 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 14 Ratings

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  • Summary: Based on the best-selling novel by Jack Ketchum, this film deals with the fictionalized account of the 1965 true story of Sylvia Likens's brutal torture, rape and abuse in the basement of a family member's Indiana home. (Moderncine)

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 1 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 3 out of 5
  1. TV Guide
    Reviewed by: Maitland McDonagh
    75
    Neither Ketchum nor the filmmakers take an exploitative approach to the material; their focus is the way the youngsters' petty cruelty erupts into murderous sadism.
  2. Film Threat
    Reviewed by: Phil Hall
    40
    The result is a great-looking bore.
  3. The New York Times
    Reviewed by: Neil Genzlinger
    30
    Gregory M. Wilson, the film’s director, has made the kind of movie that makes you wish you could rinse your brain in bleach, to wash all traces of it from your memory.
  4. Village Voice
    Reviewed by: Nick Pinkerton
    20
    Any resonance from that real-life atrocity gets smothered by a script that interlaces clichéd dialogue so tightly as to block out any glint of recognizable human behavior.

See all 5 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 6
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 6
  3. Negative: 1 out of 6
  1. DougM.
    10
    This movie is not an easy one to watch, but it is just as gripping and disturbing as the book, and blance baker as ruth was phenomenal.
  2. JohnE.
    10
    Don't listen to stodgy critics - this film is a powerhouse on all levels. Terrifying and tragic, it sucker punches the viewer and leaves him with a film experience he'll never forget.… Expand
  3. zgp92
    8
    This is a faithfull and solid adaption of Jack Ketchum's brutal masterpiece, which was based on a true story. Could be deeper, but satisfying nonetheless Not for the squeamish.… Expand
  4. Tss5078
    4
    Jack Ketchum's 1989 novel and the subsequent film are based on one of the most infamous sex crimes in American history. The crime was truly horrific, unfortunately the film is equally as bad. The story is about a young girl who is living with a relative for the summer, a twisted and evil relative, who not only abuses the girl, but allows the neighborhood children to take advantage of her as well. The story is more than a little disturbing, but it's made worse by a film that is ridiculously tedious and boring. This story was much too straight forward and simplistic to make for a good movie, especially when they're choosing to focus on the crime itself. The one bright spot in this movie is soap actor, Daniel Manche. I'd never even heard of him prior to this film, but he was really great. It's a shame this film was so bad and cost him the recognition he deserved, but this kid was on target and really displayed the emotions that the viewers were feeling. There is another film about this crime, which focuses specifically on the ensuing trial resulting from the crime. It's called An American Crime, and while I already know the outcome, I have to see it, because it stars one of my favorite actors, Jeremy Sumpter. I can only hope that that film is more interesting than this one was.… Expand

See all 6 User Reviews

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