The film of the week this time is THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074806/

This is a weird choice. I saw this recently, and it has been on my mind. The film is about a young girl Rynn who lives in a house by herself. She is taught to be independent, and she will protect her home at all costs. There is a lot more to it than that, but I don't want to spoil the story. It stars a very young Jodie Foster, who does a great job. It's a hell of a role for a kid to play. The film is a bit similar to those evil kid movies like The Bad Seeds, and The Omen. However this one has a lot more depth. The kid in this isn't just an evil brat. Her character supposedly lives alone, and when someone comes to the door she says her father is either away or too busy to greet his guests. One day the landlady starts getting suspicious, and her perverted son takes a liking to Rynn.

All she wants to do is live her life without fear of being told what to do by others. It was advertised as a horror film, but it more of a slow paced character study. There are some creepy moments, and terrific atmosphere but don't watch it thinking you are going to see a slasher. I think Jodie Foster's acting was more impressive when she was a kid than she was older, and I usually don't like child actors much. She has a very natural screen presence that not many kids have. Oh, and Martin Sheen plays the perverted son who takes a liking to Rynn, and he goes a fantastic job. It has aged a bit, and the music is pretty cheesy at times but I still recommend it. Actually its a film that I wouldn't mind seeing remade. Maybe Chloe Moretz, or Elle Fanning could play the lead.