In many ways this is a very unpleasant and highly disturbing film, but it is also extremely original and very watchable. Jody Foster plays a 13 year-old who lives on her own but manages to successfully pretend that she lives with her father. Again and again, when adults visit, she manages to convince most of them that he's alive and well though it's painfully obvious to the viewer that she's alone. Now this certainly is not enough to make a movie, so there are some very creepy subplots involving a horribly nosy and cruel real estate agent (Alexis Smith) and her pedophile son (Martin Sheen in a very difficult role). Both are such awful people that you really feel sorry for Foster and most will probably root for her to kill them! In particular, Sheen is super-sickening to watch, as he knows something is amiss and surmises that Foster is all alone--making her the perfect sexual abuse victim. His groping her and killing her pet hamster before her eyes (in a very realistic scene) will no doubt cause many viewers to turn off the film because it is so intense and disturbing. While these didn't bother me too much, a nude scene late in the movie did, as it appeared as if young Foster was naked. The idea of a 13 year-old naked on screen is very disconcerting, though according to IMDb the scene was actually done by Foster's older sister (whew). Regardless, showing so much skin really wasn't necessary and just seemed exploitational--making this the only negative in the film. Aside from that, the movie was surprisingly exciting and managed to make a simple story idea compelling and credible.
