Gardens of the Night

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Fustun B One of the most beautifully acted, heart wrenching stories I've ever watched. Deeply, deeply sad and tragic, but the reviewers don't understand that it's supposed to make you feel this way. These are victims, people that have been tossed away and they're just trying to survive. Gillian Jacobs gives one of the best performances I've ever seen in a film, and anyone who needs a wake up call needs to see this film. It makes me sick that the world allows these types of things to happen. God bless everyone who is in caught up in this world, and I pray that you find a way out. May the people that perpetuate this cycle burn in hell. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 10/26/24 Full Review Audience Member One of the worst and saddest movies I've ever seen. I don't typically get emotionally involved in movies but this one really got to me. I was so sad and angry at times. I wanted to kill Tom Arnold (not him but the character) and save that little girl. Be prepared this movie is very disturbing. I had to pause Bec my heart couldn't take it. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 03/29/18 Full Review Audience Member One of the most disturbing films I've ever seen. BEWARE SPOILERS! You will not be redeemed. You will not find catharsis. You may very well feel deeply depressed at the depravity of some human beings. We can begin with Alex (Tom Arnold) who "loves" little Leslie (Ryan Simpkins) so deeply and tenderly that he deprives her of her childhood to satisfy his lust. And then there's his bud Frank (Kevin Zegers) who helps Alex drug the children. Some years pass. Leslie (Gillian Jacobs) is now 17. She is living in San Diego sleeping under a life guard station or under the freeway with Donnie (as a child played by Jermaine 'Scooter' Smith and then by Evan Ross) the other child abducted by Alex and Frank. The viewer can guess that Leslie and Donnie were just dumped somewhere when Alex and Frank got tired of them. (And we can guess that Alex and Frank found other children to enslave and molest.) Leslie smokes, does drugs, prostitutes herself, and hangs out with lowlifes on the streets. One lowlife (I forget his name) wants Leslie to entice a 12-year-old girl into prostitution. She is told that he will give her to only the "best people" including a judge. Apparently he has a ring of enslaved girls that he shops around to the best people. At this point the viewer is understandably waiting for Leslie and Donnie to find themselves, to break free of the hopeless life on the street. Enter Michael at the homeless shelter (John Malkovich in what is little more than a cameo). He discovers an old flyer with little Leslie's photo and the plea from her loving and distraught parents for the return of their missing daughter. Prior to seeing this Leslie believed from years of being brainwashed by Alex that her parents didn't love her and were glad to be rid of her. Michael says, "It's time for you to go home, Leslie." And so Leslie does. And what happens is in some ways the most disturbing part of the movie. The cast is outstanding. I was particularly impressed with Ryan Simpkins, Gilliam Jacobs and Evan Ross. Damian Harris, who wrote and directed, gives us a view of humanity that is unrelentingly debased. There is no doubt about his skill and dark vision. I just hope that next time out he does something positive. --Dennis Littrell, author of the movie review book, "Cut to the Chaise Lounge, or I Can't Believe I Swallowed the Remote" Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review Audience Member I'm sooo mad about the ending! It wasn't enough closure for me Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/12/23 Full Review Audience Member Sensitive but uncaring, Gardens of the Night shows no effort to push itself to be what it truly wants to be, but the final act is enough to leave you satisfied. Rated 2/5 Stars •  Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Audience Member The film is important enough as a powerfully devastating look into the depravity of pedophiles who kidnap and never release their innocent victims, ruining their lives forever simply to gratify their twisted actions that it mitigates any of the movie critics that cite its shortcomings as a film. Watch it and urge others to watch it, particularly if you have any suspicion that someone you know may be one. Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/14/23 Full Review Read all reviews

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