Masterful Movie

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

This is a dark and sometimes deeply uncomfortable drama

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This film is crazy...because in today's day in age, it just wouldn't be done. At least not in any mainstream way. It stars 14 year old Jodie Foster as Rynn...and it sexualizes the sh*t out her for the entire film. There's even a nude scene where she gets fully naked in a back shot with her tits hanging out in full view (though it's actually her older sister Connie...the implication is still pretty nuts).The very first scene is one of the most disturbing scenes I've seen in a film since the Irreversible rape scene. It is legitimately f*cking disturbing. It features a 36 year old Martin Sheen sexually accosting 13 year old Rynn, because he knows she's alone. Literally molesting her.He's known throughout town to be a child molesting rapist, but was married off to a cocktail waitress with two kids- by his racist mother- so that he could look normal.The mother also has it out for Rynn. She's also her landlady and knows something is up, because her father is never seen around- and also hates Rynn because she is a Jew.But Rynn always has an excuse for why he's not around. She always has an excuse for everything. She's a great storyteller, and uses it to her advantage.One day, however, the landlady dies, accidentally, at Rynn's house. And she tries to cover it up.In the process of this she attracts the attention of a young crippled magician boy who is probably 17 or 18. He helps her cover things up by hiding the car and redirecting things when a cop (his uncle) shows up asking questions. He also defends her from Sheen when he comes back and more than suggests he is going to rape her as soon as he leaves.She grows to trust him. And he soon becomes the only one she can trust, because she manipulates him into becoming complicit in the cover up.Which brings me to what makes this film so goddamn creepy, and kind of f*cking great! She is by no means a victim in this film, despite her sexualization, she is a very strong, liberated female character...at least in the film (as for Jodie Foster, in the rest of general reality, is up for question). But, as a film, it is excellent.For example, think about the story she tells the boy while they are sharing tea...and then think back to what she was doing with the mother before she accidentally killed herself. That was a lucky break! And great use of foreshadowing.It's the subtle little details like this- and pedophilia induced creepiness- that made this a cult hit. It literally had me going..."this is crazy"...the whole time. There's so much molestey tension in here.She does put out to the kid! First, it's implied...but pure, because they are both virgins, right? Then is the infamous boob scene. But through the whole film her breasts are augmented to be the center of attention- especially in scenes when she is alone with Sheen or the cop. And at risk of being molested.As a character, however, she seems to be a bit of a sociopath, and it was almost like she uses sex to manipulate her now boyfriend into never betraying her- using him to her advantage- rather than out of any actual love for him...at least at first. As she does seem to genuinely love him by the end (though she definitely would have offed him if she thought he had talked).This is definitely one of the most f*cked up films about rapey predators I've ever seen. Sheen has the creepiness of Kinski in Crawlspace, and the overall cringe factor of Irreversible. It's disturbing as all hell.The perfromances from both Foster and Sheen are great. Critics noted this was Foster's best performance yet- her most realistic portrayal of a child.Growing up as a child actor, might explain why...7 out 10.

Watched this film from 1976 and true it was a decade and period that was good for horror films, still this entry called "The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" to me falls more into the suspense mold. The build up is slow and the plot is a little hard to follow with interest and much of the characters life and happenings appear to be in secret. In one of Jodie Foster's early roles (in fact this was the same year of her stardom role of "Taxi Driver")she is Rynn a young girl who lives in a seaside old resort house with her very reclusive father. It appears she's all alone or is she? Is something down in the basement? Her neighbors(note: Martin Sheen plays one of them) suspect that Rynn is dangerous and hiding secrets and they make appearances trying to set her free from this isolated world. However word of warning don't go down in the basement cellar. Overall this film is off beat considered a cult like film of suspense and drama it's twists and turns will keep you the viewer guessing.

7 out of 10/ r u flipping kidding me???This movie sucked !! There are no words to describe this piece of crap!! only good thing about this movie? Martin sheen was in it! What a huge disappointment..plus not to mention, it talked about being a horror /thriller movie? No! I highly do not recommend this.I recommend a lot of movies but i would be lying to my peers if I even suggested watching such a pathetic downfall of a waste of a good movie,. its a waste...PERIOD!!!! I am highly respected and reputable when it comes to my movie reviews, to be honest, though? Tonight I was threatened to be blocked for lying!I thought to be honest, a review was persons opinion about a movie...u know ...for the lot of u who do know me, know that I do not lie, am very outspoken, but to be told I'DD be blocked for not giving as good review? They can block me all they want... they will be sorry7 tho.....I Will make my voice known on face book...wow..... I am floored... :( I don't know what to say.....guess they said it all...somehow!

Jodie Foster isn't an actress who appears in many movies, for a reason. She carefully selects her roles which is good as she has never let me down even when the movie isn't up my alley. She makes it worth a view even if only once. Not so with this movie as I have seen it like 3 times last year and surely I will re-watch this over the years to come. Obviously based on a book with some great characters, Jodie Foster as the little girl Rynn living with her father the poem writer in a house close to the waterside. Nothing special at first only that she is bothered by some nosy people such as the landlady, the local cop and last but not least the pedophilistic creep marvelously played by Martin Sheen. when they come around her father is never and Rynn finds an excuse to get those people out as soon as possible. That begs the question where is her father or what happened to him? And why doesn't Rynn want anyone checking the basement? Some questions do get answered, some do not. But it is suspenseful until the end with a few twists. It involves friendship and love. Nice role also for Scott Jacoby as the cripple magician. Rynn is a great character, very clever and yeah you could call her pretty twisted. Love this movie!