Girl in the Basement

Why would they hire actress Elisabeth Röhm, to direct this film, when she's never been behind a camera before? This was such a troubling and horrific true story event, it needed professionals to tell it. The screenplay was on point, but Röhm's failure to direct her cast and scenes properly, really failed this film. Performances were adequate to decent, but that was strictly from the merits of the actors following a screenplay. Stefanie Scott's performance got better as the movie progressed, but I'm sure that was due to her getting comfortable with her character. Even Judd Nelson's performance was stale and amateurish, that with a better director, he would've shined. Had a seasoned director been involved, this could've been much more gut-wrenching and epic film. Nevertheless, it's a story that needed to be told, and I'm glad it was; It was a bold move for Lifetime to produce this. I just wish it was told in a better way. It's a generous 6/10 from me.

This film is inspired by the life of Elisabeth Fritzl and the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father, Josef.

I knew going into this that it is not a big budget movie. This is a lifetime movie. I know that people like to hate on these simplistic made for TV films but I happen to enjoy them regardless. As long as the acting is tolerable and the storyline is decently put together. This film met my requirements.

No. It doesn't have the greatest actors but considering the subject matter they were portraying, I thought they were fairly good. The subject matter is awful but there is no need to feel as though you will be watching horror level violence or sexual assaults of an overly graphic nature. This is tame in those regards.

I personally liked the film. I found it to be a decent watch. If you like Lifetime movies, this is going to be right up your alley. If you don't care for those types of films, don't watch it.

The delivering through a low budget standardized package of generic tv drama prevents the implications of such events to be fully developed for its own flaws of mediocre acting, underdeveloped plot and neglected atmosphere.

Still, there's something remaining that may make the movie watchable but the disappointment that it should've been much better exists.

Well done and definitely toned down for TV. I personally think people need to start making movies that actually depict the true horror of the reality we live in. Her true events were 1,000 times more horrific. It doesn't do the victims justice by making the father out to be better than he was. He is pure evil. Men like her father should be tortured every second for the rest of their life.

My comments on this movie:

1. This was not the typical LMN or Lifetime movie - good performances by all. 2. Shocking violence, though there was not very much. 3. Disturbing implication of incest between the father and daughter. 4. Judd Nelson's portrayal of the father seemed disturbingly real. 5. The ending took some of the edge off the movie, but left some questions.

Do not watch this if you are in a depressed mood.