The Girl Next Door (2007) Movie Review, Trailer and Poster

USA 2007
Director: Gregory M. Wilson
Cast: Blythe Auffarth, Blanche Baker, Daniel Manche, Madeline Taylor, Spenser Leigh, Austin Williams
Rating: R
Release Date: 3 October 2007
Running Time: 1 hour 31 minutes

The Movie Review

This year Hollywood have released so many daunting horror movies, some are downright silly (Primeval, Skinwalkers), some are utterly demented, some are remakes (The Hills Have Eyes 2, Disturbia, Halloween, The Hitcher), some are really entertaining and thrilling (Vacancy, Bug, 28 Weeks Later) however...there are not many that based on true story.

What I'm about to review is a movie titled "The Girl Next Door" aka "Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door" which is based on a 1989 novel written by Jack Ketchum. The novel which is entitled under the same name was actually based on a true story of Sylvia Likens.

Jack Ketchum, up until 2006, has released 20 novels.


The GIRL NEXT DOOR
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The Girl Next Door was Jack's 4th novel, but it's also his second novel that has been adapted to the big screen. It's just a brief info for you, because upon watching this movie you would probably notice stark similarities between Jack's novel and the ever famous Stephen King's novels that also have been made into movies with titles such as Stand By Me (1986) and It (1990). Who inspired who, it's not that important though. The thing is, is that they wrote great novels.

The storyline revolves around Megan Loughlin and her sister, Susan. And what we are about to follow is actually a memory of the adult David Moran. Megan (Blythe Auffarth) and Susan, were adopted by their aunty Ruth after an accident that killed Megan's parents. It's not a salvation though to live in their auntie’s house along with Megan’s spoiled cousins. Aunty Ruth (Blanche Baker) is a depressed woman who hates the gut out of any man, and a person who even give her pre-teen kids beers without any worries. And Megan's cousins Willie Jr., Donnie, and Woofer are often toying around with Megan and her disabled little sister Susan. But Megan's life sees a little light in a form of a young boy named David Moran (Daniel Manche) who is a neighbour to Aunty Ruth Chandler.

At first, David sees nothing abnormal about the house where he actually befriends Willie Jr. But after Ruth depression level arisen because of the tenderness that Megan has and which probably reminds Ruth of a woman's weakness, Ruth starts to abuse and torture that poor 14-year old girl...And she doesn't do it by herself, but with the help of her three sons and...other kids in the neighbourhood. David is stuck in the middle, since he actually and secretly falls in love with Megan.

The filmmakers have done a great effort in building the late 50s atmosphere with all the hair-do, the ice cream truck, the red square table cloth, the songs, the bikinis and everything else is perfect. I even got sucked to not realize that this is a 2007 movie. But I want to give credit to the entire cast especially to Blanche baker that has successfully made me hate her character so. I would have cursed Megan's aunty Ruth with a thousand curses if this review had not been on-lined. And Blythe Auffarth for giving all out and making me feel sympathize for her so much, I guess Blythe would be a great actress in the future, and even though some of the child actors' acting can't be considered as great, but they blend well with the atmosphere.

There's a lesson here for those of you girls who often quarrel with your sister, realize how sometimes your sister is your closest friend and how noble Megan is. Sometimes a small quarrel seems huge until the real huge trouble comes. That's when people realize how they have sweated for small stuff.

Just like any horror movies have done before concerning that their story is based on true events or true story, those horror thriller flicks are not coyly in depicting the depressing facts and sometimes gut-wrenching scenes in their running length. This is important to tell you just to let all of you fellow moviegoers know what you're getting into. Well there isn’t any single gore scene in this movie, but disturbing images and ruthless devilish act that would make you cringe with sadness. Definitely not for the squeamish moviegoers.

© iwan pranowo of Movielogy.com