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The Girl Next Door
Theatrical release poster
Directed by	Gregory Wilson
Produced by	William M. Miller Joseph B. Mauceri Daniel Farrands Philip Nutman
Written by	Novel: Jack Ketchum Screenplay Daniel Farrands Philip Nutman
Narrated by	William Atherton
Starring	Daniel Manche Blanche Baker Blythe Auffarth Madeline Taylor
Music by	Ryan Shore
Cinematography	William M. Miller
Editing by	M.J. Fiore
Distributed by	Starz!
Release date(s)	October 3, 2007
Running time	97 min.
Country	United States
Language	English

The Girl Next Door is a 2007 film adaptation of the 1989 novel of the same name by Jack Ketchum. It is loosely based on the true story of the murder of Sylvia Likens.

Plot

Inspired by true events, this thriller set in 1958, viewed through the eyes of preteen David Moran (Daniel Manche), follows the story of two sisters: Meg Loughlin (Blythe Auffarth) and Susan Loughlin (Madeline Taylor). After their parents are killed in an accident, the two sisters move in with their aunt, Ruth Chandler (Blanche Baker), and her three sons, Willie Chandler Jr. (Graham Patrick Martin), Donny Chandler (Benjamin Ross Kaplan) and Ralphie 'Woofer' Chandler (Austin Williams). Aunt Ruth soon begins abusing the sisters, culminating in the physical torture and sexual abuse of Meg, who is imprisoned in the basement of a New Jersey suburb. Other children from the neighborhood join in the torture and do not report the crimes that have taken place.

Differences from the Novel

• During the branding scene in the novel, the children take turns putting a letter on Meg's body

• During the rape scene in the novel, it is Donny who is raping Meg, not Willie Jr.

• spoilers* At the end of the novel when David makes his stand, he beats the children that enter the baement with the cruch, and he pushed Ruth down the stairs

• spoilers* At the end of the novel, David gives Meg's mother's ring to Susan

Cast

• William Atherton as Adult David Moran (Narrator)
• Daniel Manche as David Moran
• Blanche Baker as Ruth Chandler
• Blythe Auffarth as Meg Loughlin
• Madeline Taylor as Susan Loughlin
• Graham Patrick Martin as Willie Chandler, Jr.
• Austin Williams as Ralphie "Woofer" Chandler
• Grant Show as Mr. Moran
• Benjamin Ross Kaplan as Donny Chandler
• Kevin Chamberlin as Officer Jennings
• Dean Faulkenberry as Kenny
• Gabrielle Howarth as Cheryl Robinson
• Spenser Leigh as Denise Crocker
• Catherine Mary Stewart as Mrs. Moran
• Peter Stickles as EMT
• Madeline Taylor as Susan Loughlin
• Michael Zegen as Eddie
• Jennifer Alexander as Girl at concession stand (uncredited)
• Jack Ketchum as Carnival worker (uncredited)
• Mark Margolis as Bum hit by car (uncredited)

Reception

As of March 2010, rating at The Internet Movie Database was 7.0 from about 4,800 votes.^[1] Reviews from critics were generally positive. On Rotten Tomatoes, it currently holds a 69% "Fresh" rating.

Stephen King said about the movie, "The first authentically shocking American film I've seen since Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer over 20 years ago. If you are easily disturbed, you should not watch this movie. If, on the other hand, you are prepared for a long look into hell, suburban style, The Girl Next Door will not disappoint. This is the dark-side-of-the-moon version of Stand By Me."^[2]

Soundtrack

The music was composed by Ryan Shore.

See also

An American Crime, a more documentary telling of the Likens story, was scheduled for release at roughly the same time but not released until a Showtime premiere in mid-2008.

References

External links

• Official site
• The Girl Next Door at the Internet Movie Database
• The Girl Next Door at Allmovie
• The Girl Next Door at Rotten Tomatoes