Directed by: Jeffrey Bloom
Released: 1987
So this is a favorite film of my girlfriend-- she's been telling me to watch it for years, and when we started seeing commercials for the TV movie remake, I finally decided to see it. And holy shit, what a BRUTAL fucking movie! I mean, it wasn't super violent or anything, it's just the torture these kids went through... it's all very real. If you don't know the story, there's Mom, Dad and four kids, Dad dies, Mom is broke and decides to take the kids to live with their grandparents (they didn't even know they had grandparents). Her parents are insanely wealthy, and "the grandfather," as he's called, is dying. Not expected to live out the month. Mom decides that she's gonna get back in his good graces, get put back into the will, take all his money, and she and the kids will be set for life. Why "getting a job" wasn't an option for this lady is something I don't understand, but I guess there wouldn't be a movie (or book, or remake) if she was a go getter. Long story short, "the grandmother" immediately exiles the kids to one room, where they have access to a bathroom and an attic full of shit. She's crazy biblical, always beating the kids for their sins, shit like that. The kids know they're in a bad situation, and they know that they shouldn't be getting this treatment, but their mom periodically stops by the room and gives them updates, "he's dying, this'll all be over soon, it's for the best, just a few more weeks", blah blah. Her visits grow increasingly infrequent, until they stop altogether. The kids eventually realize that their mother has all but abandoned them, and they have to try and escape on their own. Solid ending with this one. Lots of ... interesting revelations along the way. 6.5/10
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