The Girl Next Door

Title: (Jack Ketchum’s) The Girl Next Door
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Drama, Thriller, Horror
Starring: Blythe Auffarth, Blanche Baker, Daniel Manche

Since were going with a torture theme here I thought I’d keep things going. I myself have long since stopped being squeamish at gore, torture and general horror themes, a frequent watcher of the likes of Cronenberg’s “The Fly” and “Braindead,” before my age was in the double digits, so I want to get across my full meaning when I state that some of the scenes featured in this film are some of the depraved, stomach-churning and despicable acts imaginable. Based on the novel by Jack Ketchum, Gore-aficionado’s may well feel underwhelmed with the distinct lack of visual effects, instead leaving this very much to the audience’s imagination (which is perhaps why it stands so vividly in my mind), but rather than a horror film this is still a Drama at its core.

Set in the 1950s America it follows the true story of Meg Loughlin (Auffarth), whose parents died in an accident and she – along with her sister, suffering from polio – is sent to live with her Aunt (Baker). Her Aunt, far more used to dealing with boys has an unusual hatred for women, almost believing men superior she begins to criticise Meg, and it doesn’t take long for this situation to elevate. This tale is told through the eyes of the young David Moran (Manche), infatuated with the young Meg we can see the confusion and despair in his eyes as he struggles to decide how to act. This could easily have been turned into a mere torture film, but it runs deeper than that, questioning just how to act, and how dangerous a woman scorned can be in manipulating young minds. Some will undoubtedly criticise it for its variation of events (Meg was not her actual name, and her parents didn’t die, but rather left their children in her care for example), but these are slight modifications and allow for a greater flow of story. The real story is well documented and easily researched.

Unquestionably much of this films success can be attributed to the powerful performance by young Blythe Auffarth, taking a role involving being the victim of such acts that would surely put off many considering the role and performing with an utmost realism, a horrifying resolve showing a certain fragility, directly in contrast with the manipulative aunt (Blanche Baker). Written in such a way that she never seems overtly hostile in her manner, we can quickly see her unconventional opinions in allowing the young boys (most between 8 and 14) to smoke and offering them beer to drink. It is her polite manner that allows her to seem so convincing, to manipulate the minds of the boys in her care into believing their actions to be justified; it is this sadistic nature that makes it so disturbing to watch.

The love story felt underdeveloped, but wasn’t entirely necessary to begin with, not beyond the evidence of his morality and care for her the way a friend does another, and there are many who will pass this film off as sub-par; its lack of gore and explicit violence likely a disappointment to some, and the subject matter blinding them to the underlying dramatic element for others. This isn’t another unrealistic horror film about a madman with an axe, or a simple sadist who gets off on watching people die in numerous ways. This isn’t watching a bunch of strangers die for your amusement, this is taking your sibling or loved one and being forced to watch her as she is abused mentally, denied food or water, strung up and beaten and that’s just how it begins. If you are at all squeamish, this is not for you. If you watch it at night in the dark, prepare to stay awake for hours afterwards. This is depravity at its most deranged, and many of these images may well haunt you for some time to come.