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.

In her woman/child period of Bugsy Malone and Taxi Driver Jodie Foster turned out this curious film. The Little Girl Who Lives Down The Lane is a 70s version of The Bad Seed. She wants to live alone though given her circumstances I doubt anyone in a responsible position of authority will let her. People just go missing around her including parents.

Acting honors in this film go to Martin Sheen the son of Foster's family's landlady Alexis Smith. As it is designed to do, Sheen's performance will make your skin crawl,

Foster reputedly does not like the finished product. It definitely is in the middle rung at best in her body of work.

The 1970s is a decade chock-full of interesting and long-forgotten American and Canadian movies, many of them made for television, some not. THE LITTLE GIRL WHO LIVES DOWN THE LANE is such a film, an astonishing tour-de-force for a youthful Jodie Foster, cementing her shocking role in TAXI DRIVER. She plays a weird and friendless 13-year-old who lives alone in a house; there's some mystery surrounding the fate of her parents which comes to light as the story goes on. This is set in a single room for the most part and feels like it was adapted from a play, although it's actually taken from a novel. It's a psychological thriller which remains thoroughly interesting thanks to strong writing and interesting, unique characters. Martin Sheen plays a completely sleazy character and there are a few shocking moments here and there, but for the most part this is slow-paced and almost surreal at times. It's certainly a film that leaves an impression and is ripe for re-discovery by modern viewers.