Jack Ketchum's 'The Girl Next Door' (Anchor Bay) - Blu-ray Forum

Adrock · 03-12-2010, 01:40 AM

First of all, this is not referring to the movie with Elisha Cuthbert.

I searched and was unable to find a thread about this movie.

NOTED: CONTENT SPOILERS BELOW (possibly recommended before viewing)

The Girl Next Door

First of all, despite it's price of $6.99, I recommend renting this if you would really like to watch it, as I assume most people (myself absolutely included), I do not think I could bare watching this movie a second time.

The movie itself was very well done, most of the acting, cinematography, and the way the story was presented was done extremely well, however I find it may be best to share about the content of this film as it can be extremely difficult to swallow, and/or forget, and frankly had I been fully aware, I may have avoided this film simply due to its blatantly terrifying depiction of these events.

Truly, and respectfully, this was one of the most realistically horrific films I have ever seen. It is based on actual events, but the way the movie tells the story left me uncomfortably terrified to put it lightly. For lack of a better way to say it, the content is nothing short of a nightmare that really occurred: the type of fear a parent may feel about a child whom has not returned home, the exact kind of fear a loved one would feel of an uncompromisingly terrible experience that may have occurred to another loved one, the kind of fear that is actually really truly scary.

To put it bluntly, anyone whom may be sensitive to experiencing through film, atrocities such as psychological & physical torture, rape, and mutilation should steer absolutely clear of this film, most certainly even more so if such a terrible experience, or even any part there of has ever happened to someone you know.

Certainly not for the lighthearted, nor the sensitive type, and also, most certainly not for me.

I rarely regret purchasing *any* movie, as I enjoy most films in their own unique way, however this is one that will be making a swift departure from my collection.

t0nythebeat · 03-12-2010, 02:10 AM

So was this technically a DONT BUY IT/hatred post?

I love this movie. I recommended to everyone when it dropped in price, heck I'd recommend it for the $14.99 regular price tag anyway. It's a truly terrifying flick and it's worthy to stand in collections. Specially for horror/drama fans.

N8DOGG · 03-12-2010, 03:10 AM

Seen it on a recommendation and I can honestly say that I'll never watch it again. I'm not saying it was a bad movie, just very disturbing. It will scar your mind.

Adrock · 03-12-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by t0nythebeat

So was this technically a DONT BUY IT/hatred post?

I love this movie. I recommended to everyone when it dropped in price, heck I'd recommend it for the $14.99 regular price tag anyway. It's a truly terrifying flick and it's worthy to stand in collections. Specially for horror/drama fans.

Ironically, no.

I wouldn't by any means say I loved the movie, or that it would be one I would regularly enjoy enough to have had purchased it, but I most certainly do not hate it. I respect it for what it is, and definitely could agree it could potentially be a standard for true modern horror films. It is terrifying.

Truthfully, it was just more than I had expected, in an unfortunate way for me. I was just suggesting that for those with any personal experience or sensitivity to a tragedy of a loved one's experience, the movie is even more horrific, and scary, and not the edge of the seat, classic horror movie fun type of scary, the realistic absolute tragedy type of scary, the one that really gets you...

Adrock · 03-12-2010, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N8DOGG

Seen it on a recommendation and I can honestly say that I'll never watch it again. I'm not saying it was a bad movie, just very disturbing. It will scar your mind.

My point, summed up in a sentence or two. Thank you.

+1.

toxsic · 03-12-2010, 03:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adrock41

My point, summed up in a sentence or two. Thank you.

+1.

i have to agree as well, it really was a good movie, but i will never watch it again.

ArmyOfDarknessAW · 03-12-2010, 03:54 AM

My girlfriend watched this and said she was disgusted by it so i have no plans to see it.

goodstuff · 03-12-2010, 01:09 PM

There is also another movie on the same events starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener called An American Crime, while not quite as exploitative and graphic as The Girl Next Door it's still pretty F'd up. I have the German import of that and it's a nice BD.

Liquid_Swords · 03-13-2010, 05:40 AM

For the price, I think it's worth it. Just be warned. Very..Warned. Again. I warn you

Zero_Cool · 03-13-2010, 05:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liquid_Swords

For the price, I think it's worth it. Just be warned. Very..Warned. Again. I warn you

warned about what?

Belloche · 03-13-2010, 01:39 PM

The book is gripping and devastating.The movie is pretty faithful , but it somehow misses the emotional impact of the story.

PaulJunior · 03-13-2010, 01:58 PM

I watched this movie about 3 years ago and liked it. Unlike you, I'd watch watch it again and @ArmyOfDarknessAW, instead of relying on other peoples opinion, watch the movie and make up your own! I didn't find it disgusting.

Sponge-worthy · 03-13-2010, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by goodstuff

There is also another movie on the same events starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener called An American Crime, while not quite as exploitative and graphic as The Girl Next Door it's still pretty F'd up. I have the German import of that and it's a nice BD.

This. An American Crime is a more 'factual' (used somewhat loosely) telling of the Sylvia Likens murder. The Girl Next Door is a tough one to call. I appreciate what the film is going for, but there's a point where that movie crosses the line from drama to exploitation. Sitting through it is a bit of a masochistic experience--sort of like The Passion.

D head · 03-13-2010, 06:09 PM

I got the one with Elisha Cuthbert for $6.99 because the sign at BB just said "The Girl Next Door" and the cashier did an over-ride on it for me...

yoxodo · 03-14-2010, 12:35 AM

I watched this film over a year ago and have been haunted by it ever since. Its an extremely depressing, soul-shattering experience. That being said, its absolutely one of the most effective, well-acted movies of it's kind. I've been meaning to watch it again for the last year, but i just can't bring myself to. The very presence of this film in my collection intimidates me, yet for that reason i hold it in such high regard.

I did pick up the blu-ray for $6.99, but i probably won't be watching it for a long time to come. I'm still picking up the pieces of my shattered soul.

nikolaipromises · 03-14-2010, 12:41 AM

Haha. If someone wants to sell me their copy... PM me!

RYJAPE21 · 03-14-2010, 12:53 AM

Yes it's a very disturbing film but what's even more unsettling is the true story was a whole lot worse than what was depicted in the film. I saw it once, as well as An American Crime, and will probably see neither again. I thought both were great films however.

Sebas_es · 11-13-2013, 11:47 AM

I can't make a new thread so I must write here...

I think most of You know that movie. I read the book, it was very disturbing, and I would like to watch the movie, to see how the director shows this in the movie. And of course what they cut from the book. I'm interested in buying the best edition of this movie. Somebody can help me?

bigdaddyhorse · 11-13-2013, 01:45 PM

I didn't read the book so I can't say what was cut or not. I do know for fact the dvd has 2 commentaries, interviews, making of and trailer. The BD doesn't even have a menu and has the same 5.1 audio track. Take that info as you wish.

I picked this up years ago on dvd, watched it once, was disturbed and haven't revisited it since.

The Great Owl · 11-13-2013, 02:00 PM

I've read several Jack Ketchum novels, including The Girl Next Door, but I've never seen the movie.

Every single time I finish reading a Ketchum paperback, I promise myself that I'm never going to read one of his books again. I always somehow come back to them, though. I find the paperbacks at a used bookstore in town, and I always trade them back in a soon as I finish each one. There's a real feral urgency to Ketchum's writing, and it's impossible to put down one of his books, even when I'm disturbed to the point that I want to stop reading.

If you get a chance, read Ketchum's short story anthology, Peaceable Kingdom. This is some seriously demented fiction that hits where it counts.

The Girl Next Door was so disturbing that I wanted to burn the book after I finished reading it. The insane thing is that it is loosely based on a true story.

I rented the movie adaptation of Hal Ketchum's Lost a few years back, and was underwhelmed. The movie was almost page-for-page faithful, but it still lacked any semblance of the book's horrifying resonance. I've avoided The Girl Next Door movie adaptation for the same reason.

03-12-2010, 01:40 AM	#1
Adrock Moderator Top contributor Member since:Jan 2010 Location:The Outer Limits Blu-ray collection:412 DVD collection:38 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:205	Jack Ketchum's 'The Girl Next Door' (Anchor Bay) First of all, this is not referring to the movie with Elisha Cuthbert. I searched and was unable to find a thread about this movie. NOTED: CONTENT SPOILERS BELOW (possibly recommended before viewing) The Girl Next Door First of all, despite it's price of $6.99, I recommend renting this if you would really like to watch it, as I assume most people (myself absolutely included), I do not think I could bare watching this movie a second time. The movie itself was very well done, most of the acting, cinematography, and the way the story was presented was done extremely well, however I find it may be best to share about the content of this film as it can be extremely difficult to swallow, and/or forget, and frankly had I been fully aware, I may have avoided this film simply due to its blatantly terrifying depiction of these events. Truly, and respectfully, this was one of the most realistically horrific films I have ever seen. It is based on actual events, but the way the movie tells the story left me uncomfortably terrified to put it lightly. For lack of a better way to say it, the content is nothing short of a nightmare that really occurred: the type of fear a parent may feel about a child whom has not returned home, the exact kind of fear a loved one would feel of an uncompromisingly terrible experience that may have occurred to another loved one, the kind of fear that is actually really truly scary. To put it bluntly, anyone whom may be sensitive to experiencing through film, atrocities such as psychological & physical torture, rape, and mutilation should steer absolutely clear of this film, most certainly even more so if such a terrible experience, or even any part there of has ever happened to someone you know. Certainly not for the lighthearted, nor the sensitive type, and also, most certainly not for me. I rarely regret purchasing any movie, as I enjoy most films in their own unique way, however this is one that will be making a swift departure from my collection. Last edited by Adrock; 03-12-2010 at 01:58 AM.

11-13-2013, 11:47 AM	#18
Sebas_es Junior Member Member since:Nov 2012	Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next Door I can't make a new thread so I must write here... I think most of You know that movie. I read the book, it was very disturbing, and I would like to watch the movie, to see how the director shows this in the movie. And of course what they cut from the book. I'm interested in buying the best edition of this movie. Somebody can help me?

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03-12-2010, 02:10 AM	#2
t0nythebeat Special Member Member since:Sep 2008 Blu-ray collection:211 Blu-ray reviews:38 Trading Score:2	So was this technically a DONT BUY IT/hatred post? I love this movie. I recommended to everyone when it dropped in price, heck I'd recommend it for the $14.99 regular price tag anyway. It's a truly terrifying flick and it's worthy to stand in collections. Specially for horror/drama fans.

03-12-2010, 03:10 AM	#3
N8DOGG Expert Member Top ranked HT gallery Top contributor Member since:Sep 2009 Location:Detroit Rock City Home Theater Gallery:12 4K collection:479 Blu-ray collection:3070	Seen it on a recommendation and I can honestly say that I'll never watch it again. I'm not saying it was a bad movie, just very disturbing. It will scar your mind.

03-12-2010, 03:54 AM	#7
ArmyOfDarknessAW Blu-ray Knight Member since:Jan 2010 Location:Moosic, PA Home Theater Gallery:21 Blu-ray reviews:1 Trading Score:64	My girlfriend watched this and said she was disgusted by it so i have no plans to see it.

03-12-2010, 01:09 PM	#8
goodstuff Blu-ray Guru Top contributor Member since:Oct 2006 4K collection:509 Blu-ray collection:6535 Blu-ray reviews: 85 Trading Score:6	There is also another movie on the same events starring Ellen Page and Catherine Keener called An American Crime, while not quite as exploitative and graphic as The Girl Next Door it's still pretty F'd up. I have the German import of that and it's a nice BD.

03-13-2010, 05:40 AM	#9
Liquid_Swords Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2009 Location:Shermer, IL Blu-ray collection:- DVD collection:- Digital collection:- iTunes collection:- Trading Score:69	For the price, I think it's worth it. Just be warned. Very..Warned. Again. I warn you

03-13-2010, 01:39 PM	#11
Belloche Blu-ray Guru Member since:Aug 2007 Location:Nova Scotia, Canada Blu-ray collection:403 DVD collection:11 Trading Score:3	The book is gripping and devastating.The movie is pretty faithful , but it somehow misses the emotional impact of the story.

03-13-2010, 01:58 PM	#12
PaulJunior Active Member Member since:Sep 2009 Home Theater Gallery:36 Blu-ray collection:137	I watched this movie about 3 years ago and liked it. Unlike you, I'd watch watch it again and @ArmyOfDarknessAW, instead of relying on other peoples opinion, watch the movie and make up your own! I didn't find it disgusting.

03-13-2010, 06:09 PM	#14
D head Senior Member Member since:Jan 2009 Location:West Virginia Blu-ray collection:1407 Trading Score:1	I got the one with Elisha Cuthbert for $6.99 because the sign at BB just said "The Girl Next Door" and the cashier did an over-ride on it for me...

03-14-2010, 12:35 AM	#15
yoxodo Active Member Member since:Mar 2009 Location:brandon, florida	I watched this film over a year ago and have been haunted by it ever since. Its an extremely depressing, soul-shattering experience. That being said, its absolutely one of the most effective, well-acted movies of it's kind. I've been meaning to watch it again for the last year, but i just can't bring myself to. The very presence of this film in my collection intimidates me, yet for that reason i hold it in such high regard. I did pick up the blu-ray for $6.99, but i probably won't be watching it for a long time to come. I'm still picking up the pieces of my shattered soul.

03-14-2010, 12:41 AM	#16
nikolaipromises Banned Member since:Feb 2010 Trading Score:3	Haha. If someone wants to sell me their copy... PM me!

03-14-2010, 12:53 AM	#17
RYJAPE21 Blu-ray Guru Member since:Dec 2008 Location:Maryland 4K collection:247 Blu-ray collection:910 Blu-ray reviews:1	Yes it's a very disturbing film but what's even more unsettling is the true story was a whole lot worse than what was depicted in the film. I saw it once, as well as An American Crime, and will probably see neither again. I thought both were great films however.

11-13-2013, 01:45 PM	#19
bigdaddyhorse Blu-ray Knight Top contributor Member since:Oct 2012 Location:SE MI. 4K collection:152 Blu-ray collection:1243 DVD collection:1148 Blu-ray reviews:5 Trading Score:103	I didn't read the book so I can't say what was cut or not. I do know for fact the dvd has 2 commentaries, interviews, making of and trailer. The BD doesn't even have a menu and has the same 5.1 audio track. Take that info as you wish. I picked this up years ago on dvd, watched it once, was disturbed and haven't revisited it since.

11-13-2013, 02:00 PM	#20
The Great Owl Blu-ray Archduke Member since:Dec 2012 Location:Georgia 4K collection:921 Blu-ray collection:6030 DVD collection:28 Blu-ray reviews: 255 Trading Score:6	I've read several Jack Ketchum novels, including The Girl Next Door, but I've never seen the movie. Every single time I finish reading a Ketchum paperback, I promise myself that I'm never going to read one of his books again. I always somehow come back to them, though. I find the paperbacks at a used bookstore in town, and I always trade them back in a soon as I finish each one. There's a real feral urgency to Ketchum's writing, and it's impossible to put down one of his books, even when I'm disturbed to the point that I want to stop reading. If you get a chance, read Ketchum's short story anthology, Peaceable Kingdom. This is some seriously demented fiction that hits where it counts. The Girl Next Door was so disturbing that I wanted to burn the book after I finished reading it. The insane thing is that it is loosely based on a true story. I rented the movie adaptation of Hal Ketchum's Lost a few years back, and was underwhelmed. The movie was almost page-for-page faithful, but it still lacked any semblance of the book's horrifying resonance. I've avoided The Girl Next Door movie adaptation for the same reason.

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