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An American Crime

An American Crime

Crime · Drama · Horror · 2007

The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

Movie details

An American Crime

“The true story of a child's punishment that became a woman's crime.”

2007 Crime · Drama · Horror 1h 37m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.3 / 10

Community rating

The true story of suburban housewife Gertrude Baniszewski, who kept a teenage girl locked in the basement of her Indiana home during the 1960s.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over An American Crime?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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The Last House on the Left

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Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

Tommy O'Haver

Written by

Tommy O'Haver · Irene Turner

Elliot Page

Elliot Page

Sylvia Likens

Catherine Keener

Catherine Keener

Gertrude Baniszewski

Hayley McFarland

Hayley McFarland

Jennifer Faye 'Jennie' Likens

Nick Searcy

Nick Searcy

Lester Likens

Romy Rosemont

Romy Rosemont

Betty Likens

Ari Graynor

Ari Graynor

Paula Baniszewski

Scout Taylor-Compton

Scout Taylor-Compton

Stephanie Baniszewski

Court is in session

Put An American Crime on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Form is the argument.”

Every composed frame and deliberate cut is evidence that control can be thrilling in its own right.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Technique in search of a pulse.”

Immaculate construction is still construction. The film may be too busy proving its craft to feel alive.