The Girl Next Door (novel)
Encyclopedia
The Girl Next Door was written by author Jack Ketchum
in 1989. It is loosely based on the true story of the murder of Sylvia Likens
in Indianapolis
, Indiana in 1965.
, and is told in flashback
form by the narrator, David.
After giving the reader a quick tour of his neighborhood and childhood friends, David introduces Ruth, a single mother and alcoholic, amongst other things. Ruth has, over time, gained the trust of the neighborhood children by allowing them to come freely into her home, play as rough as they wish, and even drink an occasional beer with her.
Fast forward to Meg and Susan, Ruth's nieces, who come to live with their aunt after the death of their parents. All seems well at first: the girls make friends with the other children and David begins to develop feelings for the sweet and innocent Meg.
However, Ruth's mental state has been deteriorating over time, and the burden of having two more children to care for seems to accelerate her descent into madness.
Ruth begins verbally, then physically, abusing the two girls, often while the other neighborhood children are watching. Then she allows the other children to abuse them, making them feel that because they have the permission of an adult, their actions are okay and will not be punished.
Finally both Meg (who is severely injured and near death) and Susan find themselves locked up in the bomb shelter
in Ruth's basement, and David realizes that he must do something before time runs out and he loses the first girl he ever loved. However, despite his efforts, his plan to rescue the girls is foiled by Ruth and the neighborhood children under her control. After one final act of torture
, Meg dies, shortly before the police arrive. As he and Ruth are being led upstairs, David sees Ruth wearing Meg's mother's wedding band, and, remembering a promise to get it back to Meg, and being filled with rage at Ruth due to her evil, pushes Ruth down the stairs, thus killing her. The officer near David realizes he did this intentionally, but, knowing how evil Ruth was, he claims that the fall was accidental, so David is never prosecuted. As he grows up he tracks the whereabouts of the other children who helped to torture Meg, discovering that they have either died young as a result of reckless lifestyles or have gone on to lives of poverty and crime. After reading of a brutal crime spree perpetuated by one of the now grown children, David is left to wonder what has become of the children he was unable to track.
and her younger sister Jenny were left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski
, a single mother of seven children, by their parents, who were traveling carnival workers. As the months passed, Sylvia became the target of horrendous abuse at the hands of Baniszewski, who not only senselessly beat the young girl, but allowed her children to do so, as well as the neighborhood children who frequently visited the household. The final days of young Sylvia's life were spent locked in the basement of the home, where she was tied up, starved, beaten,burnt and tortured.
Only three months after arriving in the home, Sylvia Likens succumbed to her injuries and died.
, the film stars Blanche Baker
, Blythe Auffarth
, William Atherton
, and Daniel Manche
. It was directed by Gregory Wilson
from a screenplay by Daniel Farrands and Philip Nutman. After a successful series of screenings at film festivals around the world, the film was released by Starz Home Entertainment on December 4, 2007. The film is available on DVD and was released on Blu-Ray on February 2, 2010.
Jack Ketchum
Jack Ketchum is the pseudonym for American author Dallas Mayr . He is the recipient of four Bram Stoker Awards and three further nominations. Many of his novels have been adapted to film, including The Girl Next Door and Red...
in 1989. It is loosely based on the true story of the murder of Sylvia Likens
Sylvia Likens
Sylvia Marie Likens was an American murder victim from Indiana. She was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski , Gertrude's children, and other young people from their neighborhood...
in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana in 1965.
Synopsis
The story takes place in 1950s suburban AmericaUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, and is told in flashback
Flashback (narrative)
Flashback is an interjected scene that takes the narrative back in time from the current point the story has reached. Flashbacks are often used to recount events that happened before the story’s primary sequence of events or to fill in crucial backstory...
form by the narrator, David.
After giving the reader a quick tour of his neighborhood and childhood friends, David introduces Ruth, a single mother and alcoholic, amongst other things. Ruth has, over time, gained the trust of the neighborhood children by allowing them to come freely into her home, play as rough as they wish, and even drink an occasional beer with her.
Fast forward to Meg and Susan, Ruth's nieces, who come to live with their aunt after the death of their parents. All seems well at first: the girls make friends with the other children and David begins to develop feelings for the sweet and innocent Meg.
However, Ruth's mental state has been deteriorating over time, and the burden of having two more children to care for seems to accelerate her descent into madness.
Ruth begins verbally, then physically, abusing the two girls, often while the other neighborhood children are watching. Then she allows the other children to abuse them, making them feel that because they have the permission of an adult, their actions are okay and will not be punished.
Finally both Meg (who is severely injured and near death) and Susan find themselves locked up in the bomb shelter
Bomb shelter
A bomb shelter is any kind of a civil defense structure designed to provide protection against the effects of a bomb.-Types of shelter:Different kinds of bomb shelters are configured to protect against different kinds of attack and strengths of hostile explosives. For example, an Air-raid shelter...
in Ruth's basement, and David realizes that he must do something before time runs out and he loses the first girl he ever loved. However, despite his efforts, his plan to rescue the girls is foiled by Ruth and the neighborhood children under her control. After one final act of torture
Torture
Torture is the act of inflicting severe pain as a means of punishment, revenge, forcing information or a confession, or simply as an act of cruelty. Throughout history, torture has often been used as a method of political re-education, interrogation, punishment, and coercion...
, Meg dies, shortly before the police arrive. As he and Ruth are being led upstairs, David sees Ruth wearing Meg's mother's wedding band, and, remembering a promise to get it back to Meg, and being filled with rage at Ruth due to her evil, pushes Ruth down the stairs, thus killing her. The officer near David realizes he did this intentionally, but, knowing how evil Ruth was, he claims that the fall was accidental, so David is never prosecuted. As he grows up he tracks the whereabouts of the other children who helped to torture Meg, discovering that they have either died young as a result of reckless lifestyles or have gone on to lives of poverty and crime. After reading of a brutal crime spree perpetuated by one of the now grown children, David is left to wonder what has become of the children he was unable to track.
Based on actual events
Sylvia LikensSylvia Likens
Sylvia Marie Likens was an American murder victim from Indiana. She was tortured to death by Gertrude Baniszewski , Gertrude's children, and other young people from their neighborhood...
and her younger sister Jenny were left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski
Gertrude Baniszewski
Gertrude Nadine Baniszewski , also known as Gertrude Wright and Nadine van Fossan, was an Indiana divorcée who, with the aid of most of her own children and neighborhood children, such as Ricky Hobbs and Coy Hubbard, oversaw and facilitated the prolonged torture, mutilation, and eventual murder of...
, a single mother of seven children, by their parents, who were traveling carnival workers. As the months passed, Sylvia became the target of horrendous abuse at the hands of Baniszewski, who not only senselessly beat the young girl, but allowed her children to do so, as well as the neighborhood children who frequently visited the household. The final days of young Sylvia's life were spent locked in the basement of the home, where she was tied up, starved, beaten,burnt and tortured.
Only three months after arriving in the home, Sylvia Likens succumbed to her injuries and died.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
A feature film based on Ketchum's novel was released in 2007. Entitled Jack Ketchum's The Girl Next DoorThe Girl Next Door (2007 film)
The Girl Next Door is a 2007 horror film adaptation of the 1989 novel of the same name by Jack Ketchum. The film is loosely based on true events surrounding the torture and murder of Sylvia Likens by Gertrude Baniszewski during the summer of 1965.-Plot:...
, the film stars Blanche Baker
Blanche Baker
-Personal life:Born Blanche Garfein in New York City, she is the daughter of actress Carroll Baker and director Jack Garfein. She attended Wellesley College from 1974 until 1976.-Career:...
, Blythe Auffarth
Blythe Auffarth
Blythe Auffarth is an American actress, perhaps best known for starring in The Girl Next Door.-Filmography:-TV Filmography:-Video Game Filmography:-External links:...
, William Atherton
William Atherton
William Atherton , born William Atherton Knight II, is an American film, stage and television actor.-Early life:Atherton was born in Orange, Connecticut, the son of Roby and Robert Atherton Knight...
, and Daniel Manche
Daniel Manche
Daniel Manche is a child actor from Alabama who moved to New York City, and currently lives in North Jersey. He portrayed the role of J.J...
. It was directed by Gregory Wilson
Gregory Wilson
Gregory Wilson is an American magician and a two time FISM Winner, who specializes in close-up magic, and is the subject of a chapter in magician Paul Harris's book, Art of Astonishment, Vol...
from a screenplay by Daniel Farrands and Philip Nutman. After a successful series of screenings at film festivals around the world, the film was released by Starz Home Entertainment on December 4, 2007. The film is available on DVD and was released on Blu-Ray on February 2, 2010.