Girl in the Basement (2021) User Reviews

5.5 Stars

[Foutainoflife · 6/10 · 2 March 2021]

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.

Extremely light version of truth

[sarah-baldwin · 6/10 · 10 September 2021]

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.

Lesson for victims too

[jdorego · 7/10 · 11 April 2021]

Disagree with reviews of bad acting. All actors did quite well with what was given them. They had to summarize 20 years into a 90 minute movie so at least it moves fast and keeps you engaged.

Yes it may be a lesson for creeps to repeat this crime but it is also a lesson for the people living around it.

• if a daughter had a shaky relationship with her step or real father and she disappears he likely had something to do with it
• if he spends a lot of time in the basement after the disappearance, check the basement
• if you check the basement and the size does not match up with the size of the house there are likely hidden rooms
• if you're a neighbor who sees a flashlight signal coming from the basement don't knock on the door and tell the occupant, call the cops to check it out.

He may have made the basement sound proof from her and her babies screaming but I doubt that if she banged on the walls or sink that the vibrations would not be heard upstairs.

A well told true story, ruined by horrible directing.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 6/10 · 19 April 2021]

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.

A potentially impactful story weakened by a mediocre deliver.

[ythecreator-61401 · 4/10 · 28 November 2021]

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.

A hard movie to watch based on the true story of Elisabeth Fritzl

[damyanov-37795 · 8/10 · 4 March 2021]

This movie is a must watch, so that people can finally wake up and see that life is not only sunshine and rainbows.

This movie tells the story in a very good way, that keeps your attention throuout the very end.

I live in Austria, so this hits even harder. If this movie/story taught me anything ... it is to not trust anyone, even your closest ones.

Always question everything.

Knowing

[tchitouniaram · 6/10 · 3 April 2022]

The true story behind this film , just proves ones again ,that humans are the terrible creatures , capable of unspeakable things ... Film itself is not bad , just feels that something missing ...

My first time rating a Lifetime movie

[jackgdemoss · 4/10 · 17 May 2021]

I knew something was off the moment our main antagonist delivered his first line of dialogue. He was such an atrociously bad actor throughout the entire film that it genuinely felt like a school project at times. It wasn't until the first cut to black during a tense moment that I realized this is a Lifetime made for TV type movie. With that taken into consideration, it held my attention well enough. What trumps even the poor acting and cinematography was the method of story telling. They attempt the classic move where they show a scene from near he end of the movie and then jump back 20 years earlier, slowly building back up to that moment to continue from it. The problem is that this particular scene shows us that any attempt at escape we see throughout the first hour will be unsuccessful, killing any tension and momentum. This was based off the harrowing real story of Elisabeth Fritzl, and more justice could have been done with it in the film realm.

Unpleasant yet compelling

[mja58 · 7/10 · 1 March 2021]

This did not come off like the usual Lifetime movie - my comments:

1. Nice to see Judd Nelson working, though the part of the dad is light years away from the Breakfast Club. 2. Though there was not a lot of it, the violence was shocking. 3. The dad character was completely unsympathetic. 4. The ending was satisfying, yet left a lot of questions.

Nice to see Judd Nelson working, but story is unpleasant

[mja58 · 7/10 · 1 March 2021]

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.

A grotesque tale of horror brought to the screen...

[paul_haakonsen · 6/10 · 14 March 2021]

Right, well a lot of things could actually be said about this 2021 movie titled "Girl in the Basement" from writers Manu Boyer, Leslie Greif and Barbara Marshall.

First of all, this movie is based on the gruesome and grotesque events that transpired for 24 years in Austria. This is something that was shocking and disturbing once Josef Fritzl's secret was revealed and the captivity ended for his daughter and the children. But to me, a movie such as "Girl in the Basement" raised the question of whether something that vile and traumatizing should be made into a movie for entertainment. Is it crossing a line? And the answer to that is, of course, very individual to each and every viewer.

I sat down to watch the movie given the historic references to the actual Fritzl case and to see how director Elisabeth Röhm would handle the job of bringing such a tale of horror and abuse to life on the screen. If someone sits down to watch "Girl in the Basement" solely for the purpose of entertainment, then it is perhaps time to seek professional guidance and councelling.

Regardless, then I must say that director Elisabeth Röhm managed to turn the tragedy into a movie that actually is every bit entertaining as it is appalling. Watching this movie and knowing that it is based on true events, sort of left a foul taste in my mouth. Not because the movie was presented in a sleazy or distasteful manner or way, no, but because of the events that the movie is based upon. Sure, this movie does not portray the events to the full extend, but still...

I believe that "Girl in the Basement" is not a movie that is easily watched by just anyone in the audience, as it is a fairly psychologically harsh movie to sit through. So keep in mind what gruesome events this movie is based on.

Now, a movie such as "Girl in the Basement" is one that require some rather stalwart performances, and I must admit that I was surprised to see Judd Nelson in the role of the deranged father. And believe you me, he really carried the role quite well with a good performance - I am not condoning the actions of the father here, but merely giving praise to Judd Nelson's performance in the movie.

Being familiar with the actual case in Austria, then the living conditions as seen in the movie were not even remotely close to the cramped quarters in the subterranean dungeon of horror that the caged family was living in.

While "Girl in the Basement" is a tough movie to watch at times, then it is actually a movie that I think is something that people should sit down to watch. The events that transpired in Austria are just too grotesque and inhuman to be quietly forgotten.

My rating of "Girl in the Basement" lands on a six out of ten stars. While this is an Americanized version of the Fritzl case, and with certain events being slacked upon or changed, then there is still some importance to this horrific tale.

Well made but unpleasant

[pmtelefon · 7/10 · 28 February 2021]

I've seen a bunch of Lifetime movies. I tend to have a problem with the ones that based on a true story. I don't mind spending my Saturday night with an obsessed ex-boyfriend or roommate or whatever. But when it has to do with a real person's sufferings, I get uncomfortable. That is what happened as I watched "Girl in the Basement". The movie is well made with very good performances across the board. It's just that I have a hard time trying to relax while real victims scream. Honorable mention: an apparently ageless Judd Nelson.

Girl in the Basement - Problems

[krocheav · 3/10 · 6 August 2021]

This rather nasty made for cable movie is a fabrication that's based on some shocking true events. A daughter held captive in the family's home cellar, and constantly assaulted by her deranged father for 25 years! (fortunately this maniac is now locked away for life) During this hideous time, she gave birth to 7 children! Problem is that while this adapted version is traumatic, there are elements of this production that don't ring true. The director Elizabeth Rohm, seemed more like a trainee or someone who only took a superficial interest in her shocking story! Essential details such as; the unfortunate girl being depicted mostly looking way too youthfully healthy for someone locked away over such a huge time span.

Her skin would have had a sickly pallor from no Sunlight (Vitamin D) and her hair would have likewise suffered - but here she looks too clean and shiny. For someone who's given birth to several children, in terrible conditions, even her body shape only changes slightly. This creates a look that's more in line with a cheap 'exploitation' movie. Also, the cheap-looking handheld camerawork doesn't help. Unfortunately, this all ends up appearing more like 'sensationalism' rather than social comment. And that's not a good look for a movie of this serious nature.

Ridiculous Plot but hey it's based on true story

[ankitsharma-08371 · 6/10 · 29 June 2021]

If I didn't knew it was based on True Story then I would've given it 1/2 because Plot is ridiculous, it sounds ridiculous, and it's hard to believe it's based on true story without knowing about it. But it happened. Actor who played the Father did a fantastic job. Overall it's just a fine movie.

Cheap Abuse of a true horror

[fracturedglitter-36-435020 · 2/10 · 18 May 2023]

The real story of the crime of Josef Fritzl is more horrid than this cheap imitation. Here the american version, for america has no cases like this within its borders. Here the ceiling in the basement is high and room plentiful. It's still horrific but read up about the case for a true perspective on the horrors of this man.

Performance wise, it's a tv movie but better than most but still has a certain sheen to proceedings even through the dirtiness of matters. Judd is very good in the controlling role but I can't help but think, the way this is handled to sanitise for the American market cheapens the horrors from Austria.

A heartbreaking story

[lanaeyles · 8/10 · 2 July 2023]

This was incredibly difficult to watch at times and it's hard to believe that someone actually lived that story in real life. Heart wrenching and extremely emotional but tells the story well. I don't think the reviews do it justice on here. I will admit that if someone else had been cast to play Don it probably would have got better ratings. He obviously isn't supposed to be a likeable character but the acting was just nothing special.

Overall this is definitely worth a watch. The ending made me tear up and the song that Chris sings to her which is played throughout the film is just beautiful.

This movie change the ture details

[fxjzpz · 1/10 · 6 February 2022]

I saw a documentary about the true story and in the movie many things are not true, when you based a movie on a true story you should say the total truth.

Not realistically portrayed but gripping nonetheless.

[breemoria · 7/10 · 15 June 2021]

The director did a poor job of portraying the timeline. Sarah & Don did not seem to age at all in 20 years. The third son looked a lot older than his older siblings. The bunker had only cement floors, and the captives seldom wore shoes as well as sometimes sleeping on bare concrete. Normal humans can't do that. Judd Nelson did a good job because I now HATE him.

The true story deserves better.

[Dodge-Zombie · 1/10 · 26 June 2022]

Horrible acting, terrible direction, ridiculous script, annoying shaky shaky camera work.

I mean the actual story this was inspired by was horrific. This is just not doing any of what happened justice.

I'm not sure what they were trying to do here but it's just insulting to the real events.

Not for the faint-hearted

[zsammy-11675 · 9/10 · 11 March 2021]

This movie is not for the faint-hearted. Sexual, physical and verbal violenxe are all prominent themes in the film. The movie appeals to our feelings and I definitely shed a few tears. Overall a great movie. Definitely an eye opening movie and it is insanely scary that this is based on real life events. My heart was pounding throughout the whole movie.

This is the type of story that whack-a-doodles get their insane ideas from just like Josef Fritzl did

[Ed-Shullivan · 6/10 · 8 March 2021]

This may be pure fiction but more likely loosely based on Austria's Josef Fritzl who in 1984 admitted that he imprisoned his own 18 year old daughter Elisabeth in the family home basement and where Josef repeatedly raped her to which seven (7) children were born out of his incest with daughter Elisabeth. Elisabeth gave birth to seven children during her twenty four (24) years of captivity. I fear that it is stories such as this that create copycat monsters who make reality out of fiction.

There is another similar themed film made in 2015 titled simply "Room" in which actress Brie Lawson won her Academy Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role. This film starred Stefanie Scott as Sara the imprisoned daughter of Don played to perfection by Judd Nelson, For a made for TV film which are usually produced on a shoe string budget there was little creativity with the wardrobe and makeup and as such, the twenty (20) year elapsed time while Sara was imprisoned with two of her three children did not result in her or her children showing the expected tired aging of living without sunlight, and minimal nutrition and/or professional healthcare. In fact her third and youngest child born named Christofer who was allowed to live upstairs with his grandparents looked as if he was several years older than his own older imprisoned brother Michael.

For people who are fearful of imprisonment I would not suggest you watch the film as actress Stefanie Scott did a relatively realistic job of convincing us that she was imprisoned over twenty years in the basement. But maybe with most of the film which appeared on screen occurred in the basement set maybe actress Stefanie Scott was actually going a bit stir crazy being stuck in a confined space without sunlight over most of the film's scenes she appears in.

I give this made for TV film a decent 6 out of 10 rating for the more than adequate performances of Judd Nelson, Stefanie Scott and Joely Fisher. But on a personal note, it would be my choice that these types of films were never allowed to be viewed to ensure the worlds whack-a-doodles did not have any inspiration to make their illegal and unrealistic fantasies come true.

Terrible movie

[stormyweather_keeps_raining · 2/10 · 20 August 2021]

They've taken a good story and made a really terrible movie out of it. Don't waste your time watching this. It's too bad a major film studio didn't make a movie based on this story. It couldn't be any worse if they tried.

This film scared me!

[tocanepauli · 8/10 · 18 March 2021]

I found this film compelling but so disturbing! The worst part was when she was first locked in - what that must have felt like! I was not aware of this story but to think it is true fills me with pure dread. Very well acted and portrayed. Pure evil does exist........

A REMINDER OF A DISGUSTING PATHETIC WORLD WE LIVE IN

[anushkalovell · 7/10 · 14 April 2021]

It takes a lot of strength to watch a movie like this.. and it is a shocking reminder of the cruel, pathetic, perverted and disgustingly despicable world we live in.. It is hard to imagine a young girl gave birth on her own to 4 children and they lived in a basement for 20 yrs without going insane.. not sure how much the movie retells the real story of the. Fritzl case.. However, they could have made the girl age - she went down there at 18 and came back at 38 and she didnt look a day older.. a little far fetched in terms of characters shown for the movie.. the acting on the most part was good but its hard to wrap ones head around such a.case.

Makes it interesting to know it's based off Fritzl

[MattHankinson · 6/10 · 3 May 2021]

I said it sounded like fritzl before I watched it. And after watching the film my suspicions were confirmed.

Because of the true nature of the film, I find myself being able to give it the benefit of the doubt more. There are lots of things I would've done different if I was in 'Sarah's' position, and would I have put up with it for years and fathered his kids? Who knows.

Find it crazy how after 20 years he finally decided to take them outside and guess what that leads to how downfall, who'dve thought it!

The ending could have been played out more. It was a bit rushed. She seemed to adapt to normal life quite quick after it, and her and her estranged boyfriend who's been waiting 20 years still look the same age!

But knowing it is true to life is very harrowing indeed.