AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Portia Hilton Blistering performances.

Lela The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Fleur Actress is magnificent and exudes a hypnotic screen presence in this affecting drama.

meddlecore This film is crazy...because in today's day in age, it just wouldn't be done. At least not in any mainstream way. It stars 14 year old Jodie Foster as Rynn...and it sexualizes the sh*t out her for the entire film. There's even a nude scene where she gets fully naked in a back shot with her tits hanging out in full view (though it's actually her older sister Connie...the implication is still pretty nuts).The very first scene is one of the most disturbing scenes I've seen in a film since the Irreversible rape scene. It is legitimately f*cking disturbing. It features a 36 year old Martin Sheen sexually accosting 13 year old Rynn, because he knows she's alone. Literally molesting her.He's known throughout town to be a child molesting rapist, but was married off to a cocktail waitress with two kids- by his racist mother- so that he could look normal.The mother also has it out for Rynn. She's also her landlady and knows something is up, because her father is never seen around- and also hates Rynn because she is a Jew.But Rynn always has an excuse for why he's not around. She always has an excuse for everything. She's a great storyteller, and uses it to her advantage.One day, however, the landlady dies, accidentally, at Rynn's house. And she tries to cover it up.In the process of this she attracts the attention of a young crippled magician boy who is probably 17 or 18. He helps her cover things up by hiding the car and redirecting things when a cop (his uncle) shows up asking questions. He also defends her from Sheen when he comes back and more than suggests he is going to rape her as soon as he leaves.She grows to trust him. And he soon becomes the only one she can trust, because she manipulates him into becoming complicit in the cover up.Which brings me to what makes this film so goddamn creepy, and kind of f*cking great! She is by no means a victim in this film, despite her sexualization, she is a very strong, liberated female character...at least in the film (as for Jodie Foster, in the rest of general reality, is up for question). But, as a film, it is excellent.For example, think about the story she tells the boy while they are sharing tea...and then think back to what she was doing with the mother before she accidentally killed herself. That was a lucky break! And great use of foreshadowing.It's the subtle little details like this- and pedophilia induced creepiness- that made this a cult hit. It literally had me going..."this is crazy"...the whole time. There's so much molestey tension in here.She does put out to the kid! First, it's implied...but pure, because they are both virgins, right? Then is the infamous boob scene. But through the whole film her breasts are augmented to be the center of attention- especially in scenes when she is alone with Sheen or the cop. And at risk of being molested.As a character, however, she seems to be a bit of a sociopath, and it was almost like she uses sex to manipulate her now boyfriend into never betraying her- using him to her advantage- rather than out of any actual love for him...at least at first. As she does seem to genuinely love him by the end (though she definitely would have offed him if she thought he had talked).This is definitely one of the most f*cked up films about rapey predators I've ever seen. Sheen has the creepiness of Kinski in Crawlspace, and the overall cringe factor of Irreversible. It's disturbing as all hell.The perfromances from both Foster and Sheen are great. Critics noted this was Foster's best performance yet- her most realistic portrayal of a child.Growing up as a child actor, might explain why...7 out 10.

callanvass (Credit to acidxian)Rynn Jacobs is a thirteen-year-old girl who lives in a secluded house that she and her father have rented in a quiet seaside community. But whenever anybody from the town tries to satisfy their curiosity, Rynn's father is never around, and it seems as if the girl is all alone. Rynn's resourcefulness is put to the test as several people try to find out what she might be hiding, including the snobby landlady and her sleazy son. This was a very intriguing film. It slowly creeps up on you and manages to get under your skin. It's a great psychological thriller with many great surprises. You know something isn't right with Rynn, but Jodie Foster manages to make you care about her plight anyways. Despite that she had obvious problems, I still empathized with her. That's talent! Martin Sheen is excellent as the scumbag. I hated him for who he was. He creeped me out on several occasions with his inappropriate behavior. Scott Jacoby is entertaining as the friend Mario. I wouldn't call this a "true" horror film. It's a great movie nonetheless. It's a true gem.8/10

Johan Louwet Jodie Foster isn't an actress who appears in many movies, for a reason. She carefully selects her roles which is good as she has never let me down even when the movie isn't up my alley. She makes it worth a view even if only once. Not so with this movie as I have seen it like 3 times last year and surely I will re-watch this over the years to come. Obviously based on a book with some great characters, Jodie Foster as the little girl Rynn living with her father the poem writer in a house close to the waterside. Nothing special at first only that she is bothered by some nosy people such as the landlady, the local cop and last but not least the pedophilistic creep marvelously played by Martin Sheen. when they come around her father is never and Rynn finds an excuse to get those people out as soon as possible. That begs the question where is her father or what happened to him? And why doesn't Rynn want anyone checking the basement? Some questions do get answered, some do not. But it is suspenseful until the end with a few twists. It involves friendship and love. Nice role also for Scott Jacoby as the cripple magician. Rynn is a great character, very clever and yeah you could call her pretty twisted. Love this movie!

TheBlueHairedLawyer 13-year-old Rynn Jacobs is a girl very smart for her age, but lives totally alone, aside from her beloved hamster, in a little house in a small Ontario/Quebec town. She has to endure the harassment of the landlady and her pedophile son living nearby. Her only means of avoiding the foster care system, cops and school is to kill. The soundtrack was my favorite part of the movie, it just somehow fit, creepy when it was supposed to be and at times almost whimsical, even romantic. Rynn meets Mario, a high school part-time children's entertainer (Mario the Magician). He can't be in sports like his brothers because of a condition with his leg that makes him walk with a limp. When he finds out about Rynn's murders he still remains best friends with her, even her lover, 'till the end. I actually read the book before viewing the film, the film follows the plot very closely. The Canadian small-town atmosphere was a great choice for the film, with the dark and dreary clouds and rain and charming houses. Martian Sheen pulled off the very convincing and disturbing role of Frank Hallet, the adult son of the landlady who is secretly a child molester. Rynn Jacobs' part and Mario's part were both done extremely well, and the cop, too. It's an excellent film, if you ever get to see it you'll love it.