Movie Review: The Girl in the Basement (Based on True Crime, Josef Fritzl)

Girl in the Basement, a chilling drama directed by Elisabeth Röhm and currently streaming on Netflix, is a harrowing exploration of control, abuse, and resilience. 

Inspired by the true story of Elisabeth Fritzl, this film captures the unimaginable horrors of familial imprisonment and psychological torment. It's not a film for the faint-hearted but rather a raw depiction of a young woman’s fight for survival in the face of monstrous cruelty.

The movie opens with Sara Cody (played by Stefanie Scott), an optimistic, rebellious teenager on the brink of turning 18. 

She's eager to break free from her controlling father, Don (portrayed masterfully by Judd Nelson), who is obsessed with keeping his family under strict rule. As Sara dreams of escaping to experience life on her own terms, Don’s warped sense of ownership and dominance comes to the fore.

On her birthday, instead of celebrating, Sara’s life turns into a nightmare when Don locks her in the basement of their family home. For over two decades, Sara endured unimaginable suffering—cut off from the outside world, subjected to abuse, and even forced to bear her father’s children. 

The film paints this grim reality with a stark and tense atmosphere, never shying away from the horrors but also giving space to Sara’s incredible strength.

Stefanie Scott's portrayal of Sara is the emotional backbone of the film. Her performance is nuanced and heartbreaking, capturing the transformation from a spirited teen to a survivor, hardened yet hopeful through years of torment. You feel every wave of her fear, desperation, and eventual strength as she navigates a claustrophobic existence.

Judd Nelson, as Don, is chilling. He masterfully embodies the sinister side of patriarchal control. What makes his performance truly terrifying is the way he plays Don not as a stereotypical villain but as a man who genuinely believes in the righteousness of his actions. His cold, methodical behaviour creates a palpable tension that runs through the entire film.

The supporting cast, including Sara’s mother Irene (Joely Fisher), adds emotional depth to the storyline. 

The complexity of Irene’s ignorance, or perhaps denial, about what’s happening beneath her own roof adds another layer of psychological horror.

Girl in the Basement delves deep into themes of power dynamics within families, abuse, and the consequences of unchecked control. The movie shines a light on how abusers can manipulate and imprison their victims not just physically, but emotionally and psychologically. 

Don's control over Sara serves as a metaphor for the broader issue of male dominance and the societal structures that sometimes enable it.

Sara’s story also highlights resilience in the face of horrific adversity. Despite her isolation, she finds ways to maintain her humanity, protect her children, and eventually seek freedom. 

The film indirectly critiques societal indifference. It forces viewers to confront uncomfortable questions about how such atrocities can happen unnoticed for so long, right under the noses of friends, neighbours, and even family members.

Visually, Girl in the Basement maintains a dark, oppressive tone throughout, reinforcing the claustrophobia of Sara’s situation. The lighting is stark and minimal, giving the basement scenes a bleak, almost suffocating feel in contrast to the warm, open spaces of the world above—a visual metaphor for the dichotomy between Sara’s captivity and the obliviousness of the world outside.

Röhm’s direction ensures that even when we’re not directly witnessing violence, there’s an ever-present sense of dread. Each frame feels heavy with tension as if something terrible is lurking just out of sight.

While Girl in the Basement successfully immerses the audience in its grim narrative, its reliance on melodrama might detract from the emotional gravity for some viewers. Certain moments feel overly dramatised, perhaps to keep the pacing taut, but it risks bordering on exploitation in how it portrays the real-life horror of these events.

Additionally, some characters, particularly Sara’s mother, could have been explored more deeply. Her ignorance, or passive role in Sara's fate, isn’t fully unpacked, which leaves lingering questions about the psychological complexity of the family dynamic.

Girl in the Basement is an unsettling and emotionally heavy film that forces viewers to confront the darkest aspects of human behaviour. Its heart-wrenching performances, especially by Stefanie Scott, make it a powerful, if distressing, portrayal of trauma and survival. Though it treads dangerous ground with its sensationalised storytelling, the movie ultimately serves as a sobering reminder of the real-life stories that inspired it.

This film is not easy to watch, nor is it meant to be. It’s a stark portrayal of cruelty, control, and the horrifying reality that even the most unimaginable nightmares can exist behind closed doors. If you’re a fan of gripping, true-story adaptations and can handle emotionally intense subject matter, Girl in the Basement is worth the watch, but it’s not a movie you’ll quickly forget.