Apartment 407 [Blu-ray]

Powerful. At times, gut-wrenching. Absolutely, worth seeing. Started slowly, then a feeling of unease begins to seep in. Isobel, who has been offered a modeling job prospect, decides to push back any concerns – she doesn’t know the photographer - in hopes of picking up some work and a paycheck. Unfortunately, she senses a few seconds too late, that she has made a potentially fateful misjudgment. Unease has given way to a foreboding sense of danger. By taking those few steps forward into Peter’s loft, she suddenly is thrust into a harrowing, unimaginable nightmare. At a time, when very young kids have their own cell phones and can quickly learn to outmaneuver mom and dad’s attempts to protect them, I think this film is more relevant now, than when the actual events took place, over a decade ago. Predators keep upping their game, and the Internet makes it ever easier, to directly reach and isolate, vulnerable youngsters.I thought both Frida Farrell (Isobel) and Gabriel Olds (Peter) did a terrific job. At times, her “acting” seemed almost “uncomfortably real”, for me (her face got visibly red, when she was gasping for air). I thought Gabriel did a great job of capturing the most disturbingly, creepy aspects of the sociopathic persona – in that they can seem so “normal” - initially, disarming, likeable even – but, they totally lack empathy and their friendliness is solely an act, that they can “turn on”, to manipulate others, for their benefit.There are several reviews pointing out that this, “based on a true story”, isn’t entirely factual. Not sure why this is “news” to them, but even the most riveting true stories, don’t usually fit neatly into an hour and a half running time, thus, some modifications, are the norm. Googling “fact vs fiction” on almost any “based on a true story” movie, reveals a similar situation.In this case, I believe some changes were made, to make it simply more palatable, as there’s not much point, in making a movie, that no one sees, because the audience deems it too stomach churning. Any way you serve it, this is still not an easy story to digest. But, from what I’ve read, the real story is grimmer. She was raped by more men, the real “Peter” never spoke to her, while in captivity, he was more vicious and raped her, himself, several times, she was drugged during most of it and she got out on the third day, after he simply forgot to put the latch on her door, when he left the apartment… The End. … Ugh, you can pick me up off the floor now.Changing the locale from the UK, to the US, makes little difference to this particular story. Apparently, Frida has lived in the US, for over a decade, and thus, I imagine, it was easier to make this film in her current backyard. As I see it, what’s relevant to the story, is this sordid situation, wasn’t taking place in a red-light district in Bangkok. It happened to her, in a relatively safe area and can easily be happening right now, in your hometown, in the USofA. I saw a heartbreaking interview, regarding the horror that befell a sweet, young girl, living in a typical American suburb, with two good parents. She innocently befriended a new girl at school, and then was asked to accompany her friend to the mall. She was kidnapped, taken to a seedy small house, drugged, chained to a bed and sold to many men. She endured it for longer than Frida did, before escaping. While the police did investigate, the perps were never caught, the new friend “disappeared”, the house where she was taken, was abandoned and had been rented out under an assumed name for cash. Needless to say, this girl and her family, will never be the same. This is an America, most of us – myself included – are completely unaware of, unless confronted by it personally.For the naysayers, who say this event never happened (fake news?) - they KNOW this - because they read something online, that cast doubt, and besides, she waited a couple days, to go to police. Well, most likely, you have been fortunate enough, not to KNOW, what you would do, under these circumstances. One reviewer wrote with such absolute and determined certainty, that this never happened - that, I couldn’t help wondering, if it was written by a “friend of Peter” or even by the super-creep himself. Even in this age of #MeToo and anonymity, there are still many assault victims, that have never gone to the police. Sexual assault has the peculiarity, of being the only crime, where the victim often feels “ashamed”. It can feel doubly so, if you did make an error in judgement, of being too trusting, thus - “What did you expect?” There may also be the element of fear, as the perp is usually bigger and stronger than you, might know where you live, is prone to violence and likely has a loose screw upstairs. All in all, not very comforting for any woman, especially if she lives alone.There was more than one person, who doubted that this story could be real, because how could anyone who went through an experience like this, ever, be able to re-enact it. I agree, that not everybody could - even a decade later. For personal reasons; I might have been skeptical too, but I felt no doubt at all, watching her transition. At the beginning, I was watching a ho-hum, somewhat saccharin sweet scenario and then suddenly and dramatically, I was being sucked in to the escalating horror of her situation, in a way that I felt came from a painfully, personal experience. Frida was asked if making the movie was cathartic and she said no, it was emotionally rough, but what was very cathartic, were the many people who reached out to her, in support, often because they had survived something terrible too.I do find it hard to understand, in this age of Harvey Weinstein etc, that people are still questioning the believability of many of these women, (and men too), when the harsh reality, particularly for “aspiring” models and actresses (as “Isobel” was), can be “interviews” and potential job prospects, that are easily dangled, as bait, by predators. Very few, go on to become a Cindy Crawford (or her daughter) or a Meryl Streep. Most aren’t represented by big agencies or powerful agents. Most are young and hopeful and often gullible and vulnerable. The availability and ease and now the added allure of many youngsters wanting to “make it” as a “star” on the Internet, can make them the perfect prey for a sociopath.Take just about any movie and they’ll be someone who loves it, while someone else loathes it, and you wonder - did they watch the same movie? But, not unlike, what victims of sexual abuse encounter, this “based on a true story” seemed to rile up a few naysayers and blamers (and a somewhat bizarre advertisement for the NRA). One person suggested that Frida/Isobel was so stupid, that it was a wonder she made it to adulthood. I’m not sure if this person skated through their entire adolescence and young adult years, without making any mistakes or regrettable decisions, or if they are commenting on the slickness of the storyline, in which case, maybe they should skip indie flicks and stick to Tom Cruise and Mission Impossible or Avenger blockbusters. As I understand it, she raised much of the money herself and thus, likely wasn’t working with a Spielberg budget. I’ve seen and enjoyed, my share of blockbusters, but, the over the top scenarios, can get wearisome (and, unlike any of them - this movie “moved” me enough, to write my only review). I commend Frida. I found this movie thought-provoking, chilling, brave, as well as a tribute to the human spirit, as she was able to move beyond what happened.

This is a movie that people need to watch. There are master manipulators in this world who know all the right things to say to draw you in and earn your trust. So many children and women have either been kidnapped and forced or conned in sex slavery. It’s absolutely heart-wrenching to think about a child being abused in that way.I do not know Frida Farrell. I had never heard of her before I had watched this movie. I have since taken the time to read over some of her interviews.I think a lot of people have watched this moving thinking it is a true account of what happend to her. However, this is just a movie based on her story. From what I read from her interviews, only bits and pieces actually happened.Her real story:1. She went to a photo shoot in what is considered a nice part of the city. Everything seemed legit. He even had a female assistant there to help with lights and things.2. She was called back for a second photo shoot. This time he pulled a knife out. She just froze in fear.3. He gave her milk that was supposedly drugged. He also forced her to change into some used undergarments.4. She was then taken to another flat in the basement where she was forced to have intercourse with men. She doesn’t know for sure how many. She must have been drugged most of the time.5. She states that even Peter assaulted her sexually.6. Her bf was really a trainee doctor. He never would have missed her. At least for a few days it seems. Although, if I was her bf I would be telling her to called me as soon as she finished so I would know she made it back ok. I guess it wasn’t a big deal since she had done photo shoots before.What didn’t happen-based on her interviews:1. I’m not sure if she was a Pilates instructor, but she had just finished drama school for certain.2. There was no daughter. So, there is no way Peter would be telling her that the daughter was insurance to make sure she didn’t tell anyone and why she better be good.3. Pretty sure she wasn’t pregnant during the ordeal, unless she lost it or had an abortion. I have not read any mention of it.4. She only escaped the flat once. He supposedly forgot to lock the door and she ran to a friends house(not the cops like the movie).5. The is no mention of her trying to kill herself or her stabbing anyone.6. Because she didn’t run into his flat where he lived, I’m guessing she never met his daughter. She could have found out he had a daughter another way. Or, the real Peter may not have had a daughter. So, sympathizing with Peter for him trying to provide financially for his sick daughter is.....5. Frida states in an interview that she wondered if there were other girls before her. I guess the talk about the good girls vs the bad girls didn’t happen.6. She was flagged down in the street by Peter. So, it wasn’t a setup. Peter didn’t have to work that hard to play a good guy in real life by taking up for her. So, I guess the same nut wasn’t called in to kill her at the end of the movie.7. She trusted Peter right off the bat. She never felt unsafe. I wish they would have left this truth in the movie because we can’t always trust gut.8. The important guy in the movie that threatened Peter. Non existent.Some people call her a fraud just trying to earn a buck. It’s not a far fetched story though. Young women trying to make it in L.A. would be easy targets. Nevertheless, I wish they would have made the movie according to actual events that took place instead of dramatizing it to make it a more interesting movie. It’s scary to think of how many women and children are being taken, trafficked, and sexually abused right now, as I write this review.

As if that movie wasn't shocking and hard to watch on its own, reading the critical reviews posted and submitted here, well that is even more disturbing and shocking. It's not even our place to decide whether we liked or disliked the true events and experiences that someone went through and survived yet all these INSANE people are chiming in saying 'No, she lied'. 'No, that didn't happen'. Or 'No, that would never happen.' Or 'Well if it DID happen, she was just an idiot and naive and that's why it happened'. As to what I disliked, it's these people that take the time to log in and submit that kind of review. Looking down their nose and proclaiming arrogantly to the rest of us that this movie was based on lies, poorly acted, implausible, too graphic, or simply made because of her wanting to seek attention or promote her career. It is online reviews and posts like that, that continue to make the victims feel victimized and to never ever want to speak up and warn others. Shame on you all. Shame on you, shame on you. This woman came out and shared her story to warn, to WARN people that this is happening, whether you want to believe it or not, it is happening! And no she did not want this to happen, or ask for it or deserve it, any more than you would want this to happen to yourself. So to me, reading the critical judgmental, victim shaming reviews here, that is just as disgusting and nauseating as the perverts and the sadistic low life that were portrayed in this movie. I literally don't know how you sleep at night. Shame on you!