The Girl Next Door

[elsjag]

Watched a movie the other day only because Stephen King gave it a glowing recommendation. How gross, it was this side of porn and not a mystery or horror show at all. Is King now prostituting himself for some kind of kick back to support this kind of filth.

I have bought every book he has ever written and seen every movie.

Now I have a very bad taste in my mouth. UGH!

[bryras]

Well,

I know that there are at least two movies with this title:

1. A teenager's dreams come true when a former porn star moves in next door and they fall in love.


2. Based on the Jack Ketchum novel of the same name, The Girl Next Door follows the unspeakable torture and abuses committed on a teenage girl in the care of her aunt...and the boys who witness and fail to report the crime.

The first one was a cheesy comedy flick.

I believe that Stephen King was referring to the second one I listed. While it was very hard to watch because of the brutality I do think that it was a good movie. It definitely was sad to say the least. If it wasn’t a horror movie I don’t know how else you could describe it. People watch movies to stir emotions good or bad.

[Moderator]

Steve is not paid for endorsements of books or movies.

The inspiration for the story was based on an actual event. More distressing to me is that this kind of thing happens in real life not just fiction.

[Ubasti]

I read the book, I can't imagine what the movie was like. I completely agree with Ms. Mod, it's so sad that things like this actually happen.

[Dani~]

I haven't seen the movie but I read the book and I can see where you are coming from. The book was pornographic horror in my opinion but I loved it..Jack Ketchum's work is extremely intense. It's not at all like Stephen's but Stephen doesn't just like work that mirrors his own. There's a market for it, and Ketchum is good at it.

[Joiey]

I feel the need to point out that any individual's thoughts regarding any story or film is purely subjective. One person's "just this side of porn" could very well be another's "intense look at the human condition." Again, it's all very subjective.

That's why some people really get offended at the "earthy" language present in many of King's novels and stories and others simply see a colorful imitation of life. J

[JayneH]

Well,

I know that there are at least two movies with this title:

1. A teenager's dreams come true when a former porn star moves in next door and they fall in love.


2. Based on the Jack Ketchum novel of the same name, The Girl Next Door follows the unspeakable torture and abuses committed on a teenage girl in the care of her aunt...and the boys who witness and fail to report the crime.

The first one was a cheesy comedy flick.

I believe that Stephen King was referring to the second one I listed. While it was very hard to watch because of the brutality I do think that it was a good movie. It definitely was sad to say the least. If it wasn’t a horror movie I don’t know how else you could describe it. People watch movies to stir emotions good or bad.

Thanks for that - I think I might find that book and give it a read. Although disturbing it sounds like a good read.

[nicklove09]

I saw the movie as well. I am a fan of Ketchum's work.
I agree the movie was very disturbing. The relationship of the kids
made it that much more upsetting. I wanted a happy ending so bad!

[michal]

There are numerous films with the same title and many of them are porn related -are you sure you've watched the right one? And even if you did, well, just because you enjoy a writer's books doesn't necessarily mean you'll enjoy the films he likes, the food he enjoys or even the books HE reads. Hey - maybe if you ever meet him, you won't even think it's a nice guy, and you don't need to. All you need to think is that he's a good writer, at least by your standards.

The best example I can think of, to me, is Charles Bukowski. I love his written work, but some of it is based on him being a chauvinist, a self-proclaimed womanizer and whore-lover, a heavy gambler and a drunk.

Don't think I'd enjoy meeting him (if he were still alive), but I think is writing is absolutely brilliant.

Bottom line: Don't take this so hard. Read another SK book and the bad taste will go away.

[Cowboy]

Always make sure that you get the correct title. I know when I went to the local video store to rent Saving Private Ryan, I actually picked up Shaving Private Ryan. Simple mistake, but it changed the whole evening.