Sunday, November 16, 2014

An American Crime

Caution: This Might Contain Spoilers!
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This film is based on the true story of the murder and torture of Sylvia Likens in Indianapolis, in 1965. Sylvia and Jennie Likens stay with Gertrude Baniszewski and her family while their parents travel with the circus. After a while, Gertrude begins tormenting Sylvia Likens. Within weeks, the neighborhood children become involved with this horrific crime.

This film was directed by Tommy O'Haver. This film was one two films that focused on this crime; only this film premiered on television. Unlike The Girl Next Door, this film turns everyone into a villain without a hero. This film also uses the actual people involved to recreate actual events, instead of creating a fully fictionalized version of this story. The films does respectfully tell a lot of truth about the incident, but there have been some alterations. The film is a statement about unknown human cruelty and people's refusal to speak against it. It is difficult to fully know who the narrator is. It mainly appears to come from Sylvia, but it also speaks from the people in the court hearing. Fortunately, the two narratives work together to create a great psychological story. A lot of this film's horror doesn't come from the gruesome torture. Instead, it comes from the human character's psychology. Ellen Page played the role of Sylvia Likens. A familiar actress to these types of dark films, she was finally able to put more emotion into her role. Catherine Keener played the role of Gertrude Baniszewski. She was amazing in her role. There was so much subtlety and complexity to this character that it made the film stand out.

I give this film 4 out of 5 stars! It is a great psychological horror film even with its low budget. 

Answer to last blog: Actors Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, The Fault in Our Stars, co-starred in the film Divergent. 

Que: Which actress played the character recreation of Sylvia Likens in The Girl Next Door?

Hayley McFarland
Blythe Auffarth
Jodelle Ferland
Elle Fanning

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