**This article contains a discussion of rape and sexual assault that may be disturbing to some readers.**
The Lifetime movie Girl in the Basement tells the harrowing story of a young woman named Sara who is imprisoned in her family’s basement by her father, Don.
The film was made as part of Lifetime’s Ripped From the Headlines collection and was directed by Elisabeth Röhm, best known for her acting roles in Angel as Kate Lockley and in Law & Order as Serena Southerlyn.
The film is difficult to watch and features distressing subject matter, with Röhm telling The Wrap, “Lifetime has broken boundaries with this film by telling a story that is a call to action about abuse on a very significant level.”
But how can UK viewers see the film? Read on for everything you need to know about how to watch Girl in the Basement in the UK.
Is Girl in the Basement available to watch in the UK?
Girl in the Basement originally aired on the Lifetime Network in the US in 2021 and is currently available to rent and buy in the US through Amazon Prime Video.
However, here in the UK, the film is not currently available to stream, rent or buy anywhere. If it’s available somewhere, we’ll keep this page up to date.
What is The Girl in the Cellar about?
The official synopsis for the film reads: “Inspired by true events, Girl in the Basement is the horrific story of Sara (Stefanie Scott), a vibrant teenager who waited to turn 18 so she could get away from her controlling father, Don (Judd Nelson). “.
Is the girl in the cellar based on a true story?
While the film changes name, location, and doesn’t strictly follow the exact events that transpired in real life, it is tragically based on a true story.
In the film, Sara plays a stand-in for Elisabeth Fritzl, an Austrian girl who was imprisoned by her father Josef in the basement of her family’s home. She was kept there for 24 years, during which time she was repeatedly raped and abused and gave birth to seven children.
She was discovered and released in 2008. In 2009, Josef Fritzl pleaded guilty to all counts of the negligent homicide charge of his grandson and to the charges of false imprisonment, incest and rape of Elisabeth. He was sentenced to life in prison and remains in prison.
Who stars in The Girl in the Cellar?
The film stars Judd Nelson (The Breakfast Club) as Don, while Stefanie Scott (Insidious: Chapter 3) plays Sara.
The rest of the cast is completed by Joely Fisher, Emma Myers, Braxton Bjerken, Jake Nuttall and Emily Topper, among others.
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, you can find help, support and more information at Rape Crisis and Victim Support.
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