The Accused



A 1988 film starring Jodie Foster based on the real-life gang rape of Cheryl Araujo that occurred at Big Dan's Bar in New Bedford, Massachusetts, on March 6, 1983, this film was one of the first Hollywood films to deal with rape in a direct manner.

Foster won an Academy Award for her role.


 * Expository Hairstyle Change: Sarah cuts off her hair shortly after the rape.
 * Fan Disservice: Jodie Foster wears a low-cut top and does a sexy dance... then gets brutally gang-raped.
 * Flash Back: The rape scene is shown this way, visualizing what the college boy witness tells the court at the second trial.
 * Freak-Out: Sarah after running into one of the guys who cheered the rapists on and he verbally abuses her ("Wanna play some pinball?"). She reacts by driving her car into his truck several times.
 * Jerkass: Sarah's boyfriend could count as one, asking her when she'll "get over this" after she dismisses his advances. Also, the guy with the scorpion tattoo who cheered the rapists on, although he's not far from Complete Monster.
 * Mean Character, Nice Actor: The guys playing the rapists were disturbed during shooting the rape scene; Jodie Foster had to reassure them repeatedly that she's okay.
 * Rape as Drama
 * Ripped from the Headlines: the script was loosely based on the gang rape of Cheryl Ann Araujo, which occurred in 1983.