Review - The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane - sounds like a nursery rhyme but believe me, this was no child's tale. . .

I had never seen this film and my husband and I were in Circuit City when we found it on the $9.99 rack. Immediately, when he saw it he said we had to get it because he remembered having nightmares after watching it as a kid. Something about a basement where bad things happened - that was what he remembered of his nightmare anyway. After a viewing, I wonder if he will again have nightmares tonight.

This film was unexpectedly good. Rynn (Jodie Foster) is an older than her years 13 year old who is having problems with her landlady, Mrs. Hallet (Alexis Smith) and her son Frank (Martin Sheen). It seems that Frank is a bit of a pedophile intent on having his way with Rynn who keeps saving herself by claiming her father is in his study and cannot be disturbed. She also has not gotten off to a good start with Mrs. Hallet and things only get worse when Mrs. Hallet insists on going down into the basement where Rynn's little secrets are hidden.

But fear not, Rynn finds a friend in the local cripple and magician, Mario (Scott Jacoby) who becomes not only her friend but her confidant, companion and lover. Mario helps her to keep her secrets hidden and their love story is actually kinda sweet in a sick and demented sorta way. The fact that Rynn has made a friend in the town cop, Miglioriti (Mort Shuman) who also happens to be Mario's uncle, doesn't hurt her situation either.

Even though the things Rynn does are deplorable at best, you can't help but feel for her when you realize the depth of her situation. And the way that Mario protects her as if he is her knight in shining armor makes you really fall for his character almost immediately.

Excellent atmosphere, great suspense and truly likeable (and unlikeable) characters make The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane an undeniable gem. A must see for fans of Jodie Foster as well as fans of the 70's thriller movie movement.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane Movie Cast and Credits

Directed by
Nicolas Gessner (as Nicholas Gessner)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Laird Koenig also novel

Cast (in credits order)
Jodie Foster .... Rynn
Martin Sheen .... Frank Hallet
Alexis Smith .... Mrs. Hallet
Mort Shuman .... Miglioriti
Scott Jacoby .... Mario
Dorothy Davis .... Town Hall Clerk
Clesson Goodhue .... Bank Manager
Hubert Noël .... Bank Clerk
Jacques Famery .... Bank Clerk
Mary Morter .... Teller
Julie Wildman .... Teller

More Reviews of The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

Reviews of The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane from Rotten Tomatoes
The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Movie Review and Information Page at The Internet Movie Database