This movie is based on the REAL LIFE case of Victoria Lindsay who was sixteen years old at the time of the incident. This movie definitely strayed from the truth on many occasions in many areas of the case. The "Hollywood Touch" can often be as toxic as it is deceptive.
What disturbed me MOST about watching this HALF truthful account of what took place on that tragic day was that one of the "Mulberry Eight" from the real life case was left out. In the movie we see 5 girls confronting the victim and partaking in the physical attack in various ways. Yet in reality there were 6 girls involved. I'm not sure if the 6th member of the group was left out of the story INTENTIONALLY because she was bi-racial(part African-American) or if it was done for legal reasons.
Regardless, a story such as this one should NEVER veer away from real life to the point that it almost doesn't match the real case. To this day I forget it is fact based every time I watch it. I understand changing NAMES, but changing DETAILS is in a different ballpark altogether. Attention to detail is THE MOST important element in telling ANY story. Especially true ones.
What disturbed me MOST about watching this HALF truthful account of what took place on that tragic day was that one of the "Mulberry Eight" from the real life case was left out. In the movie we see 5 girls confronting the victim and partaking in the physical attack in various ways. Yet in reality there were 6 girls involved. I'm not sure if the 6th member of the group was left out of the story INTENTIONALLY because she was bi-racial(part African-American) or if it was done for legal reasons.
Regardless, a story such as this one should NEVER veer away from real life to the point that it almost doesn't match the real case. To this day I forget it is fact based every time I watch it. I understand changing NAMES, but changing DETAILS is in a different ballpark altogether. Attention to detail is THE MOST important element in telling ANY story. Especially true ones.