The Girl Next Door

I have not read the book but know the true life story of Silvia. I was reluctant to rent this knowing its harrowing content. Well I should have followed my instinct. The film is well done, scripted, and acted BUT the graphic torture was too much for me (and I'm a veteran horror/slasher film addict). Perhaps having children of my own or the realistically sad and pathetic nature of the subject matter made me cringe uncomfortably. I made it through 3/4 of the film before retreating and found myself disturbed for several hours after. I do not recommend this film unless you know what your in for and have a strong stomach because it is CRUEL!

After viewing this movie I vomitted. Depression took over for several days. This is an account of one of the most horrific TRUE stories in our lifetime. The story of Sylvia Likens in the 1950's in Indiana. She was tortured, raped, humiliated, and starved. Her battered body was used like a punching bag until she died. She died in the basement of a house where she was chained and tied up. Sylvia suffered every horror you can imagine one person committing against another. Shockingly, the group of young boys who violated her were allowed to continue until her death if they promised not to tell anyone else. Could your teenage son, brother, nephew, grandson, etc., be capable of these unspeakable violations of poor Sylvia? Or are you the one adult who encouraged this behavior? Do you know what is happening in your neighbors house? Be prepared to have your heart ripped.

I won't rehash the plot since many have done so here. Suffice it to say that this film's subject mater is disturbing, but there is such a lack of developed characters that I found many of their actions inconceivable. Yes, this is based on actual events, but without motivated characters I sat there wondering why anyone did what he or she did. I'm sure the book delves into the psyches of the participants more fully, but I couldn't help thinking that if the "moral" boy next door had just said, "Mom, Dad, I need you to come next door because our neighbor has a tied up, stripped, and tortured young girl in the basement," the film would have lasted about one-half an hour. I mean, c'mon! the door was never even locked.

My primary reason for watching this movie was because I read the book last week and I like to see how movies compare to the books upon which they are based (I'm weird that way).

The movie was pretty faithful to the book, even including some of the more graphic parts (which I was surprised were included), right up until the ending. That's where the movie failed. If you listen to the audio commentary with Jack Ketchum for the last few scenes, you will hear how disappointed/upset he was that the producers changed the ending without bothering to consult him or the script writers. I completely agree with his take on it; the book's ending was much better, both in the climax and the epilogue. I won't give away the ending to either, but if you read the book, you will know what I mean. I don't understand why they changed what was a fine ending.

The acting was very well done, especially the actresses playing Meg, Ruth and Susan. The filmmakers also did a nice job of making it look and feel like the 50s.

I'm glad I read the book first and suggest anyone considering watching this movie do the same. I'll still give it 4 stars (my true rating is actually a little less than 4), but I wish the ending had been truer to the source material.

The Girl Next Door is a horrowing, disturbing, and magnetic film based loosely on the case of Sylvia Linkens (Indianapolis, 1965).

For me, this movie was hard to watch and hard NOT to watch.

It isn't for the faint-of-heart.

And, it is terrific.