Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Extreme
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- Graphic
- harrowing
- disturbing
- oppressive
- serious horror viewing
- disturbing film discussion
What critics said
Critics broadly found the performances and disturbing atmosphere effective but regarded the graphic violence and abusive subject matter as excessive and troubling.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
The quiet 1958 neighborhood setting sharply contrasts with Aunt Ruth's abusive household and the escalating violence around the sisters.
Orphaned sisters are placed under the authority of a mentally unstable aunt whose discipline becomes abusive and unchecked.
David's adolescent perspective is entangled with the sisters' suffering, bullying, and the collapse of childhood safety.
Aunt Ruth's depraved discipline develops into sustained abuse, torture, and terror within the home.
Films like The Girl Next Door, and why
The Lovely Bones
shared suburban setting, coming-of-age perspective, psychological abuse, and disturbing crime drama
An American Crime
shared adolescent viewpoint, small-town menace, coercive abuse, and bleak psychological horror
Stand by Me
shared child-centered coming-of-age drama, suburban darkness, and escalating sadistic violence
Movie Details
- Director
- Gregory Wilson
- Release Date
- 2007-07-19
- Runtime
- 91 min
- Rating
- 6.7 / 10 (816)
Cast
- Blythe Auffarth
- Daniel Manche
- Michael Zegen
- Catherine Mary Stewart
- Grant Show
- Graham Patrick Martin
- William Atherton
- Blanche Baker
- Mark Margolis
- Benjamin Ross Kaplan
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Girl Next Door about?
- A suburban boy is drawn into the horrifying orbit of two orphaned sisters trapped under their aunt’s sadistic authority.
- What is The Girl Next Door like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Girl Next Door as brisk, its intensity as extreme and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Girl Next Door violent?
- Yes. Ember rates the violence in The Girl Next Door as graphic.
- What did critics think of The Girl Next Door?
- Critics broadly found the performances and disturbing atmosphere effective but regarded the graphic violence and abusive subject matter as excessive and troubling.
- Which films are like The Girl Next Door?
- Films with a similar feel include The Lovely Bones, An American Crime, and Stand by Me.
- How long is The Girl Next Door?
- The Girl Next Door runs 91 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Girl Next Door?
- In United States, The Girl Next Door streams on Amazon Prime Video, Lionsgate+ Amazon Channel, Amazon Prime Video with Ads.
