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GARDENS OF THE NIGHT Send This Review to a Friend
Kidnapping children to be used for porn films or sexual relations catering to those who get off on kids is a serious problem that needs addressing by law enforcement. It is also fertile ground for a filmmaker trying to expose the trafficking. “Gardens of the Night,” written and directed by Damian Harris, is a well-made drama, but it is so creepy that it is tough to watch.
The setting is a Pennsylvania town, and one day Leslie, a pretty eight-year-old girl played by appealing Ryan Simpkins, is conned on her way to school by Alex, portrayed with a mix of menace and fake kindness by Tom Arnold. He convinces the child that there is a family emergency and that she needs to get into his car and come with him. She does, and there begins a nightmarish situation of child exploitation.
What makes the film particularly creepy is the psychological manipulation of the child, who is told that her parents have abandoned her. Always lurking is what can happen to her as the sex scheme unfolds. There is tension, suspense and potential horror. The film doesn’t have to show much in the way of specifics to give us chills.
There is another layer in a different time frame. “Gardens of the Night” also reveals the fate of Leslie (later played by Gillian Jacobs), as well of that of the friend she makes along the way in her horrific journey, as teen prostitutes. This is a grim tale of kidnapping and consequences. The film meticulously avoids exploiting the sensitive subject. But still, there are moments when one can barely watch, given the disgust at how children can be manipulated by evil persons who will unscrupulously exploit them for profit. A City Lights Pictures release.
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