The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

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The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

August 10th 2010 01:57

I saw this strange and spooky gem late one night on television by myself. The Sunday Horrors was the name of the show, a popular showcase in New Zealand during the 80s. It creeped me right out, yet didn't possess any dark supernatural element nor any graphic violence, not even scary music. It just got right under my skin and crept into the back of my mind where it lay in wait, occasionally reminding me of its unusual, unsettling presence.

Based on his novel and adapted for the screen by Laird Koenig, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane (1976) is a rare and tenebrous nightmare. It operates with the stark and minimal efficiency of a stage play, yet never feels restricted by any of that medium’s trappings. There are only five main speaking parts, and essentially only one location, yet director Nicolas Gessner moves the camera just enough to give the viewer a sense of freedom within the confines set by the narrative. Yes, the visual style does feel a little like a television movie, but not like any television movie you’ve ever seen before or since.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Jodie Foster

Jodie Foster as Rynn

Set in a small town somewhere on the coast of Maine, it tells the story of young Rynn (Jodie Foster), a precocious 13-year-old (13-going-on-30) who is living in a small two-story house leased by her poet father. The landlady, Mrs Hallet (Alexis Smith), a suspicious and bitter older woman, arrives and demands to speak with Rynn’s father, but he is indisposed and Rynn insists he won’t be disturbed for anything. Mrs. Hallet wants the crab apple preserve jars that are stored in the cellar, but Rynn won’t get them for her just yet, and tells her to leave, as this is her house, the rent is paid up for three years. Mrs. Hallet leaves incensed.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Scott Jacoby

Scott Jacoby as Mario

There are three other visitors, all important characters, each with their own agenda, bringing their own dynamic, delivering a different consequence. There’s Miglioriti (Mort Shuman), the local policeman. He means well, just doing the rounds, but he’s a little suspicious too. It is rather odd that a girl so young is left to look after herself, with her father either on business trips or locked away in his study for hours at a time. Rynn, inadvertently meets Mario (Scott Jacoby), several years older, who works as a party magician, and they become close. Rynn shares one of her dark secrets with Mario, and in return he helps her.

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Alexis Smith

Alexis Smith as Mrs. Hallet

And then there’s Frank Hallet (Martin Sheen), the adult son of the landlady. He’s a dangerous man. A pervert is the name given to him in the movie, but pedophile would be the term used these days. He has designs on Rynn, and intends on getting into more than just the front door of her house. Rynn will have to use all her wits to keep this monster at bay. Will Mario or her father come to her rescue?

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Martin Sheen

Martin Sheen as Frank

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Mort Shuman

Mort Shuman as Miglioriti

I didn’t realise until the end credits this movie was not a sole American production, but it made perfect sense when I discovered it was a co-production with France and Canada. There were a couple of moments that rang alarm bells. Jodie Foster appears to be nude in a scene (she was only fourteen). She refused and her older sister Connie Foster (who also doubled for Jodie in Taxi Driver) was used instead (Jodie was very distressed however that audiences would think it was her). Despite the body doubling this would probably never have happened in a straight American production, and certainly run into trouble in a production in today’s industry climate. The 70s allowed for so much more boundary-pushing, and cinema is all the more provocative and memorable for it. The scenes I’m talking about weren’t gratuitous or unnecessary, however, they were integral to the narrative, and handled tastefully, albeit confronting and disturbing, respectively.

Frank maims Rynn's pet hamster

Director Nicholas Gessner, a Hungarian, elicits stunning performances from his cast, especially Jodie Foster and Martin Sheen, Scott Jacoby and Alexis Smith (pretty much the entire cast). Foster made four indelible performances that were all released in 1976 (Taxi Driver, Bugsy Malone, Freaky Friday, and this one). Martin Sheen had done lots of television and a few feature roles, but this is one of three career stand-out performances, partly because of the extreme nature of the role, but Sheen inhabits it with such precise intent. In Badlands (1973) he was excellent, but his next feature would be the role of his entire career, Apocalypse Now (1979).

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane Martin Sheen and Jodie Foster

Tea tastes like almonds ...

The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is superlative, economy storytelling, full of character and atmosphere, great dialogue, a floating menace that bears its teeth in a few scenes, and a brilliant succinct end. The spare use of music is inspired also, some jazz-funk and selections from Chopin. 1976 was the year of Jodie Foster. She won a Saturn Award for Best Actress, and the movie won Best Horror Film, at the 1978 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films (Gessner and Koenig were also nominated). Curiously, and disappointingly, Jodie Foster rates this movie as one of her least favourite experiences.

Here’s the trailer:

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Posted By: Bryn - Category: movie reviews

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Comments

15 Comments. [ Add A Comment ]

Comment by Tracy

August 10th 2010 03:07

Movies and Life

I like sound of this one, sounds scary and suspenseful without being too gory (I'm a wimp). Even the title is creepy...

Comment by Bryn

August 10th 2010 03:13

Horrorphile

You'd like this Tracy. No gore at all, and definitely suspenseful. Hope you find it, not sure if it got a DVD release down under though

Comment by Tracy

August 10th 2010 03:15

Movies and Life

Great, I saw Ghost Writer last night which has got me in the mood for some more suspense. Thanks for the idea.

Comment by Bryn

August 10th 2010 03:23

Horrorphile

Tracy, Little Girl is a different type of suspense than Ghost Writer ...

Comment by Tracy

August 10th 2010 03:36

Movies and Life

I know, I can't imagine they're the same. But I just mean that's the sort of mood I'm in at the moment....

Comment by Bryn

August 10th 2010 03:41

Horrorphile

Yes, I know, no one does suspense like Polanski though, he's one of my very favourite directors.

Comment by Anonymous

August 10th 2010 13:20

One of my all-time favorite films. Excellent review!

Kemi~

Comment by JohnDoe

August 10th 2010 16:28

Film & TV on DVD

Damn,

I read the comments and had the ending spoiled. But still sounds like a nifty film that slipped through the cracks for me. Will certainly try to track it down. Martin Sheen as a pedophile seems interesting.

Comment by Anonymous

August 10th 2010 19:33

Sorry didnt mean to give away the ending I remember seeing this film when I was a kid..and it all came back to me when i read the crituque

Comment by Bryn

August 10th 2010 23:43

Horrorphile

JD, Very surprised you'd never heard of this. My apologies for allowing that detail to slip through in the comments. I've since deleted it. And if it's any consolation, it doesn't ruin the movie entirely. You kinda guess it's gonna happen. Again, sorry, of all the movie's ... damn. You'll still love this. Again, I'm amazed you hadn't heard of this. Wow, I have one up on JD!!!!

Comment by JohnDoe

August 11th 2010 00:30

Film & TV on DVD

All good anon and Bryn,

Just found the film on Netflix and have put it in my queue.

This one sounds like quality though that I should have visited long before now, I really like Martin Sheen's work in the 70's.

I think you are under estimating yourself, I'm sure there are plenty of films that you have seen that i haven't heard of. That's what makes reading your posts so much fun

Lost gems are like my blood source because there are so few new films that are anywhere near as attractive.

Comment by wreckage3001

August 22nd 2010 23:23

This is Jodie Foster´s best film ever. Period. rynnjacobs.blogspot.com is all about the movie. If you like TLG then you should visit my blog!

Comment by Bryn

August 23rd 2010 05:56

Horrorphile

That's one dedicated blog you have there!

Comment by Natalina

September 1st 2010 23:50

My Life My Muse
Beta Girl Blog

Oh my this sounds fabulous. The title rings a bell but I didn't know anything about it. Well certainly look for it. Sadly almost all of the local video stores have gone out of business in my city recently, so I'm left with the subpar selection of Blockbuster. Will look into picking this up on Amazon. Well done Bryn. I'm sold!

Comment by Bryn

September 2nd 2010 00:07

Horrorphile

Hey Nat, long time no see ... but I recognise that cheeky grin! Yeah, I read a distressing article recently that mentioned that the future for DVD is at best uncertain, and at worst, grim.
I haven't bought a Blu-ray player, and I'm loathe (and don't have the money!) to start replacing my DVD collection.
I believe within the next five-ten years (probably sooner) movies for the domestic market will be released as digital files which you'll purchase (or rent) online and then download directly to your television/hard-drive.
The idea of a movie collection being that ephemeral upsets me.

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