Warning: this article discusses topics some readers may find distressing.
When it comes to horror movies, if you ask me there is one sentence more terrifying to read than any other.
‘Based on a true story’.
It’s bad enough to sit through two hours of terrifying horror scenes with the knowledge that it’s all made up, but to find out that actually may have happened to someone makes it all the more scary.
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This phenomenon transcends horror’s too, with shows such as Baby Reindeer rising to global fame off the idea of it being a true story (even if the real-life Martha says otherwise).
In the case of a horror film called ‘disgusting’ and ‘sadistic’ by fans though, it is all 100% true, which makes it all the more unsettling.
Check out the trailer here:
The film in question is called The Girl Next Door, and it is to put it lightly – deeply f**ed up.
It follows the abuse and torture of a young disabled girl by her carer, as well as two neighbourhood boys.
The film is based on a book from 1989 of the same name, which was itself inspired by the real-life abuse and murder of a girl called Sylvia Likens. The Girl Next Door is dedicated to her.
One review on IMDb gave the film a 7/10 rating, calling it ‘A disgustingly sadistic piece of well-made garbage’.
Another review on IMDb, which gave it 10/10, said: “I consider myself a Horror freak. I'm pretty experienced with the genre, and I don't scare or shock easily.
“I've ‘survived’ Martyrs, The Inside. and Murder Set Pieces. This film squeezed my soul to the point of trauma.
“This film would make a dead body cry.”
“I really hope there's a hell dark enough with sadistic enough eternal torture for those who committed the acts portrayed here.
“First time I've rated a film 10.”
Another review gave the film a 9/10, saying: “This is an excellent film and therefore in some ways it is a pleasure to watch, but anyone who has seen it will know that it's effectiveness in fact makes it almost unbearable to watch.
“This film is very well written, directed and performed and is therefore a relentlessly depressing affair which is horribly painful to watch.
“Truly gripping. Truly horrifying. Hard to watch and hard to look away.”
The movie received a score of 67% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Scott Feinberg of TheHorrorShow saying: “It's a dark, harsh, and sometimes powerfully unpleasant film, but it's also very well made.”
The Girl Next Door is not only a tough watch, but by all accounts, is a must watch for horror sickos.
Topics: Film, TV and Film, Rotten Tomatoes
Michael Slavin