Movie · Drama · Crime

Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), a divorced mother of several children, agrees to take care of two girls, Sylvia (Elliot Page) and Jennie (Hayley McFarland), while their parents travel with a carnival. Though her eldest daughter is the real troublemaker, Gertrude vents all her bitterness and frustration on innocent Sylvia. Gertrude imprisons the girl in the basement and tortures her, eventually encouraging her children to follow suit.

2008 · 1h 37m
Director Tommy O'Haver

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An American Crime

Drama

Gertrude Baniszewski (Catherine Keener), a divorced mother of several children, agrees to take care of two girls, Sylvia (Elliot Page) and Jennie (Hayley McFarland), while their parents travel with a carnival. Though her eldest daughter is the real troublemaker, Gertrude vents all her bitterness and frustration on innocent Sylvia. Gertrude imprisons the girl in the basement and tortures her, eventually encouraging her children to follow suit.

COMMON SENSE

Strong violence, brutal torture in disturbing drama.

TOMATOMETER
Average 5.4
Reviews 15
Fresh 6
Rotten 9

Information

Studio
First Look Studios / John Wells / Killer Films
Released
2008
Run Time
1 hr 37 min
Rated
R For strong and disturbing depiction of child abuse and torture.
Region of Origin
United States
© 2007 First Look International

Languages

Original Audio
English
Audio

English (AAC, ⁨Dolby 5.1⁩)

Subtitles

English (CC)

Accessibility

Closed captions (CC) refer to subtitles in the available language with the addition of relevant non-dialogue information.