Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
True crime-inspired drama has domestic abuse, rape.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
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Where to Watch
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Girl in the Basement
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 5 parent reviews
Based on 11 kid reviews
Kids say the film is emotionally heavy, featuring disturbing themes of rape and violence, which many found unsuitable for younger viewers. While some appreciated the storytelling and acting, others criticized its accuracy to the real-life case, highlighting the distressing content and suggesting it may not be appropriate for those sensitive to such topics.
- emotional content
- inappropriate for kids
- disturbing themes
- lack of accuracy
- good storytelling
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
Based on true events, GIRL IN THE BASEMENT tells a version of a horrific real-life story in which a daughter is held captive for 20 years by her abusive father. Just before she reaches the age of emancipation at 18, when she plans to escape her unhappy life and travel the world, Sarah (Stefanie Scott) is captured and imprisoned in her own basement by her father, Don (Judd Nelson). From that day on, he is psychologically, physically, and sexually abusive toward her, and she ultimately gives birth to four of his children. The story follows how Sarah deals with her incarceration and maintains a level of hope for herself and her children in the direst of circumstances.
Is It Any Good?
This is an example of well-made, ripped-from-the-headlines fare. Inspired by the same shocking events in Austria on which the book and film Room were based, Girl in the Basement is effective, but the dramatization does have its limits. It tries to counteract viewers' potential knowledge of events by manufacturing suspense with edgy horror music, and it overindulges in slowing the plot way down.
Though difficult to watch, the performances by Scott and Nelson are solid. But, after all the film puts viewers through—88 unrelenting minutes of abuse and villainy—it would've been great to get at least a glimpse of Don's punishment. Don himself tells us that choices have consequences, and the movie shows us his choices. Providing an account of the consequences he faced would've been more satisfying. The Austrian man who committed these atrocities in real life was found guilty of rape, incest, murder, and enslavement and sentenced to life in prison in 2009. (A 2010 documentary, Josef Fritzl: Story of a Monster, tells that story.) But despite its shortcomings, Girl in the Basement is harrowing and impactful, and it will likely make viewers want to know more about the facts behind the fiction.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the themes of control and abuse in Girl in the Basement. What do you think is the difference between firm parenting and abuse? Where might you turn if you or someone you know was experiencing abuse at home?
The movie is based on real events, but it's not a documentary. How do you feel about dramatizations of such sensitive material? How does this compare to other dramatizations of dark subject matter? Why is it important to be aware of the balance between sensationalizing events and reporting truths?
What do you think about the film's ending? Do you think viewers want to see the dad in the story punished? Do you know what happened to him in real life? Does that impact your experience of the movie?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 27, 2021
- Cast : Judd Nelson , Stefanie Scott , Joely Fisher , Braxton Bjerken , Emma Myers
- Director : Elisabeth Rohm
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Lifetime
- Genre : Drama
- Run time : 88 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : February 20, 2026
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