Gardens of the Night

Ferociously queasy-making for its first half before flatlining into banality, Damian Harris’s part-brilliant, part-boring look at child abuse outlines the emotional trajectory and psychological fallout of a young life, from suburban innocent to urban gutter trash. But the opening hour is harrowing in a way few films dare: To watch the terrified young Leslie (Ryan Simpkins) receive platitudes of affection from her doughy goofball kidnapper (Arnold) as he peddles her flesh is to witness stomach-churning evil.