In present-day New York, David Moran saves a man who’s just been run over. Later on that day, this event forces David to reminisce about events that occurred in 1958. Meg and her disabled sister Susan are placed in the care of their aunt, Ruth who lives with her sons after their own parents are killed in a car accident. Both Meg and Susan are made to endure the worst abuse imaginable at the hands of their aunt.

The real-life case of Sylvia Likens inspired Jack Ketchum’s novel, which in turn inspired Girl Next Door. Director Gregory Wilson brings it to the screen.

The film has the feel of a TV movie, albeit one that feels the need to depict such terrible acts rather than shying away from them. The TV movie feel is at serious odds with this and the effect is one of cheap shock value rather than an examination of evil.

Blanche Baker’s performance is one of high camp which, again, is at odds with the acts being depicted which feels inappropriate and as if she’s playing all of this for laughs.

The film’s characters are also massively underwritten with only Baker’s character getting any kind of substantial material to work with.

Whilst I fully agree that this kind of case should be depicted warts and all, it should never be for some kind of twisted entertainment’s sake. It’s almost as if they’re trying to push the boundaries of taste rather than depict the real-life case this is taken from.

Author Stephen King thought this film was great for not flinching in its depiction of such terrible deeds and thought the film could be compared with Henry Portrait of a Serial Killer when it comes to grit and realism. The mind boggles.

2 out of 5 stars