The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane

PG

1976

1h 31m

Mystery & Thriller

List

93%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

75%

5,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Quiet, withdrawn 13-year-old Rynn Jacobs (Jodie Foster) lives peacefully in her home in a New England beach town. Whenever the prying landlady (Alexis Smith) inquires after Rynn's father, she politely claims that he's in the city on business. But when the landlady's creepy and increasingly persistent son, Frank (Martin Sheen), won't leave Rynn alone, she teams up with kindly neighbor boy Mario (Scott Jacoby) to maintain the dark family secret that she's been keeping to herself.

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Mike P

(spoilers) Riding on the coattails of The Exorcist, this is another bad-girl movie; one of the better ones in this genre actually; stars Jodie Foster, as Rynne Jacobs; a mystery teenaged girl living alone in a seaside home somewhere in the Northeast Corridor...That she's leasing....And at first this seems like it's about a serial killer girl who's killed off her parents...but later we realize the story is trickier than that...It's sort of a variation on Home Alone actually...And she spends most of the movie dodging child molesters in the guise of Martin Sheen, and his nosy landlord mother Mrs. Hallett who threatens her independence. Interesting and moody, with excellent performances, particularly by Foster...Only debit: The score occasionally indulges in wah-wah pedal seventies kitsch; which almost ruins the movie...Almost...Overall: Thumbs up 👍

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

04/12/24

Full Review

matthias s

"The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane" is a peculiar blend of suspense and charm that earns it a lukewarm 2.5 stars. Jodie Foster shines as the enigmatic protagonist, displaying a depth beyond her years. The film boasts great suspense, with Martin Sheen's haunting portrayal adding a layer of eerie tension. The bond between Foster's character and Mario is heartwarming, adding a touch of sweetness to the otherwise dark narrative. The plot is intriguing, but I found myself yearning for more development and resolution. While aesthetically fine, the film could have benefited from a more immersive visual experience. Despite its shortcomings, Foster's stellar performance and the suspenseful atmosphere make it worth a watch for those seeking an unconventional thriller. Just be prepared to leave with a lingering desire for a bit more substance and closure.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

01/20/24

Full Review

Farah R

Jodie Foster's cold eyes are haunting in this disturbing thriller that benefits from the maturity and talent of its young lead actress. Although the film's sluggish pace can become vexing, Foster's performance makes it impossible to give up watching.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

10/13/23

Full Review

Ed L

Brilliant story, brilliant script, brilliant acting by the whole cast. Jodie Foster matches (exceeds?) her performance in Taxi Driver and Martin Sheen is at his youthful best. It's pace is slow, ponderous, but that adds to the simple elegance of the film. Don't miss this one, especially if you like the macabre genres that depend on plot and atmosphere instead of simpleminded gore. Both beautiful and unsettling from the first frame to the last.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

07/15/23

Full Review

B Rad

Fantastic movie. Jodie Foster is stellar as is Martin Sheen as the town pervert. Not really horror but a thriller. Definitely a must see!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/06/23

Full Review

dan b

I thought it was great

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

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Nicolas Gessner

Director

Jodie Foster

Rynn

Martin Sheen

Frank Hallet

Alexis Smith

Mrs. Hallet

Scott Jacoby

Mario

Mort Shuman

Miglioriti

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Melissa Anderson

Village Voice

Gessner's film may be for Foster completists only. But the intensity of her dead-eyed stare as the final credits scroll across her face reminds us of her preternatural ability, as a kid and beyond, to transform even the most negligible movie or scene ...

May 10, 2016

Full Review

Gary Arnold

Washington Post

Director Nicholas Gessner is deft enough to keep "Little Girl" engrossing from start to finish, and he springs a few witty, creepy surprises.

Dec 21, 2015

Full Review

Rene Jordan

El Nuevo Herald (Miami)

This thirteen-year-old girl [Jodie Foster] is capable of expressing a complete catalog of emotions with the impassivity of a Sphinx. [Full review in Spanish]

Aug 16, 2023

Full Review

Grant Watson

Fiction Machine

A mostly superb little thriller that sits uncomfortably between character-based drama and exploitation picture.

Rated: 8/10

Feb 8, 2021

Full Review

Eve Tushnet

Patheos

Foster is a huge standout...just a ferocious, iconic, convincing portrayal. She makes what could have felt like a mannered film instead feel raw.

Jan 23, 2021

Full Review

Nicholas Bell

IONCINEMA.com

A cult classic worthy of a wider following, The Little Girl Who Lives Down the Lane is ripe for rediscovery and features Jodie Foster in her first (and one of her best) lead performances.

Rated: 3.5/5

Oct 8, 2020

Full Review

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Synopsis

Quiet, withdrawn 13-year-old Rynn Jacobs (Jodie Foster) lives peacefully in her home in a New England beach town. Whenever the prying landlady (Alexis Smith) inquires after Rynn's father, she politely claims that he's in the city on business. But when the landlady's creepy and increasingly persistent son, Frank (Martin Sheen), won't leave Rynn alone, she teams up with kindly neighbor boy Mario (Scott Jacoby) to maintain the dark family secret that she's been keeping to herself.

Director: Nicolas Gessner
Screenwriter: Laird Koenig, Laird Koenig
Rating: PG
Genre: Mystery & Thriller
Original Language: English
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 22, 2018
Runtime: 1h 31m

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