The Girl Next Door | Rotten Tomatoes (2024)

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What true story is The Girl Next Door based on? ›

The Girl Next Door is a 1989 horror novel by American writer Jack Ketchum. It is loosely based on the 1965 murder of Sylvia Likens. In 2007, it was adapted into the film The Girl Next Door.

As Ruth enters the basem*nt, David beats her to death with Susan's crutch. Ruth's two remaining sons arrive in the basem*nt, and Willie attempts to cut David's throat with a knife before Officer Jennings intervenes and arrests the Chandler boys.

While Megan lays waiting for EMS, David lies next to her and asks her forgiveness for not acting sooner. She forgives him and tells him she was glad that he acted in the end. Megan then dies. Back in contemporary times we see the adult David kneeling by the stream where he first met Megan.

This movie is about an ambitious high school senior, Matthew Kidman (Hirsch), who dreams of a career in politics. He is overjoyed to discover that his new neighbor, 19-year-old Danielle (Cuthbert), is absolutely beautiful, and they fall head over heels in love.

Sylvia Marie Likens (January 3, 1949 – October 26, 1965) was an American teenager who was tortured and murdered by her caregiver, Gertrude Baniszewski, many of Baniszewski's children, and several of their neighborhood friends.

Ruth eventually gets killed by David who beats her with a crutch, but unfortunately, Meg who was severely tortured by Ruth, dies too. The real-life Meg, Sylvia Likens, ended up dying in almost the same manner. The difference is that there is no real-life David to at least try to protect her.

While the film adaptation doesn't seem to give Ruth any clear motivations for her actions, it is heavily implied that part of the reason for her hatred towards Meg was that she was envious of her youth and her innocence, as she (Ruth) was old and ugly.

2007's The Girl Next Door centers on Meg Loughlin, a teenager who is sent — along with her younger sister — to live with her aunt Ruth after her parents are killed in a car accident. Unfortunately, Ruth is a sad*stic psychopath who begins abusing, then torturing Meg, and also sexually assaulting Meg's sister Susan.

The boys (excluding David) ran to Ruth. She accused Susan of "conniving" with Meg, lifted up her skirt, forced her panties around her ankles, and mercilessly beat her. Meg sobbed and tried to reach out to her sister but was held back by the boys. Ruth also took Meg's mother's ring from her against the girl's will.

The Girl Next Door: 2 : Hart, Emma: Amazon.in: Books.

How did The Girl Next Door end? ›

The death of Meg

She tells David that she loves him and appreciates him for his help during her last hours. Meg dies from her wounds, a victim of constant abuse, making for a moving scene. The terrible end of The Girl Next Door marks leaves the audience reflecting on the horror they have seen.

Fortunately, Jenny Likens managed to whisper to the officers, “Get me out of here and I'll tell you everything.” They did. Gertrude Baniszewski got life in prison for first-degree murder.

This film is based on a true case. In 1965, teenage Sylvia Likens was beaten, starved, and taunted by her former neighborhood friends and by her caregiver. While her sister survived, Sylvia died from all the trauma and the case was brought to trial, raising awareness of child abuse and bullying.

After the successful shoot, and after Eli has been dropped off with the tape's master copy, Danielle and Matthew make love for the first time in their limousine. Matthew Kidman, played by Emile Hirsch.

The Girl Next Door (2004) - Matthew Wiese as Mule - IMDb.

Unlike An American Crime, The Girl Next Door is based on the horror novel of the same name by Jack Ketchum, who was inspired by the murder of Sylvia Likens. The book is a fictionalized account, changing the location, era, and the names of those involved.

June 16, 1990 (age 61 years), Laurel, IA

Gertrude Baniszewski / Died

It's based on Sylvia Likens, and even though The Girl Next Door is in the horror genre the book actually has less fictionally happen to Meg than what factually happened to Sylvia.

An American Crime is a 2007 American crime drama film directed by Tommy O'Haver and starring Elliot Page and Catherine Keener. The film is based on the true story of the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Indianapolis single mother Gertrude Baniszewski. It premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival.