A Masterpiece!

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

Like the great film, it's made with a great deal of visible affection both in front of and behind the camera.

Ever since "The Bad Seed" shocked and horrified audiences in the late 1950s', someone, at least once a decade, has attempted to recreate it's murderous mayhem. This was the '90s entry into the race, and it's a pitiful one. I don't get the "R" rating at all. This movie could fit comfortably on Lifetime Movie Network as it is. I suppose I should get to the plot. Well...there's this girl...who loves her adopted Father...a little too much...will kill anyone who tries to tear them apart...and that's about it. While it's professionally directed to look like a TV movie of the week, everything else (the acting, the writing, the atmosphere) is tone deaf and laughable. The guys at RiffTrax could do wonders with this.

As is probably obvious from my past reviews, I have a weak spot for both Slasher and Bad Seed genre flicks. What I really liked about "Daddy's Girl" was that it violated a lot of my expectations and especially the formula that many BS movies (kind of an appropriate abbreviation) have followed in recent years, most notably the wildly overrated and amazingly dumb "Orphan." Let's be real for a second. Yes, I know this is a Pierre David production, which almost spells HACKFLICK at the starting gate. This isn't an A-grade production. The acting is OK...it's competent, as is the direction. You're not going to get an Oscar worthy film that blows your doors off or even something as stylized as Fatal Attraction. It does, however, manage to keep your attention, and I believe that's largely due to Steve Pesce's script, which is more well-researched and plotted than this class of picture usually deserves.Unlike the reviewer who raved about the script being abysmal, I thought there was a very logical progression to the problem child's (Gabrielle Boni) psychosis. Her back-story synced up well with her behaviors and motivations and she isn't presented for the first third of the film as a raving, terminally evil, maniacal psycho. Sure, she's got maladaptive behaviors, but the triggers for these behaviors turning lethal are plausible --- at least to an developing, unstable mind.In addition, there are many twists that occur which you don't see coming and many false leads. And the kills are, while not 100% bulletproof, pretty damn clever and well within the means of a capable (and motivated) child.To top it off, It doesn't end in the usual way, either. It's a strange ending, in that it doesn't hit any of the usual horror movie clichés.And that's overall why I'd recommend it. Many have commented that Rosi's performance is one-note, horrible, and hammy --- I'd say it's pretty close to dead on considering how unstable her character is supposed to be. It's not an "actorly" or polished performance and that actually feels right here. Yes, she spouts villain one liners but....maybe she watches a lot of Bad Seed movies.

This film has a lot of potential, however fails to impress due to the poorly written script. Scenes are very drawn out, and so there is an extremely minute degree of suspense in the whole movie. It is obvious what Jodi is going to do to each victim by the middle of the film. The mystery of the child's past is not drawn upon to develop a stronger background to the character of Jodi. Unfortunately, this doesn't give the child actor much to work with, and thus, the protagonists' performance is extremely wooden. The supporting actors have so little to work with with regards to material, that the whole thing falls apart because of the lack of backbone in direction.To the actors' credits, for an obscenely banal script, their performances were good.

I love thrillers anyway and can usually be found surfing the dial for something dark and creepy to watch. But what's so weird about this flick is it's all shot in daylight. Everything is white and shining and happy. It's like a Disney flick. The people even talk like it's a TV movie. But then the little girl is offing people. It's very twisted. I Dig where the little girl's coming from. I think I was routing for her! Actually I think she's the one we're supposed to route for. I like flickers that make oddball choices, so I enjoyed it. Check it