The Capture of the Green River Killer
Encyclopedia
The Capture of the Green River Killer is a 2008
2-part TV movie that first aired on Lifetime Television
and tells the story of the Green River killer
serial murders between 1982 and 1998.
The film was named one of the top 10 television productions of 2008 by Variety and was twice nominated for a 2008 Gemini Award
for best direction and for best costuming. Lifetime's premiere of The Capture of the Green River Killer miniseries delivered two million viewers, making it 10-year-old Lifetime's most-watched telecast ever.
), is a young runaway who decides to turn to prostitution
to escape her mother's abusive
boyfriend, in a sympathetic storyline to honor Ridgway's victims. Detective Dave Reichert
(Tom Cavanagh
) works the murder cases and stays on the case from beginning to end, including extensive interviews with incarcerated serial killer Ted Bundy
(James Marsters
). In the movie he and another officer face the killer, Gary Ridgway (John Pielmeier
) after tracking his truck down because it was seen picking up a missing woman.
2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
2-part TV movie that first aired on Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television
Lifetime Television, often referred to as Lifetime TV, or most commonly, Lifetime, is an American cable television specialty channel devoted to movies, sitcoms and dramas, all of which are either geared toward women or feature women in lead roles. The cable network is owned by A&E Television Networks...
and tells the story of the Green River killer
Gary Ridgway
Gary Leon Ridgway is an American serial killer known as the Green River Killer. He murdered numerous women in Washington during the 1980s and 1990s, earning his nickname when the first five victims were found in the Green River. He strangled them, usually with his arm but sometimes using ligatures...
serial murders between 1982 and 1998.
The film was named one of the top 10 television productions of 2008 by Variety and was twice nominated for a 2008 Gemini Award
Gemini Award
The Gemini Awards are annual television broadcasting industry awards in Canada.First awarded in 1986, the Geminis celebrate the achievements of TV members of the Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television. Essentially, it presents awards for the best television productions in Canada. Awards are...
for best direction and for best costuming. Lifetime's premiere of The Capture of the Green River Killer miniseries delivered two million viewers, making it 10-year-old Lifetime's most-watched telecast ever.
Background
The film is based on David Reichert's book, Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer. The film's biggest departure from the book is a fictional inclusion of two teenage girls, one of whom, Helen "Hel" Remus (Amy DavidsonAmy Davidson
Amy Lynn Davidson is an American actress best known for her role as Kerry Michelle Hennessy in the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.-Early life and education:...
), is a young runaway who decides to turn to prostitution
Prostitution
Prostitution is the act or practice of providing sexual services to another person in return for payment. The person who receives payment for sexual services is called a prostitute and the person who receives such services is known by a multitude of terms, including a "john". Prostitution is one of...
to escape her mother's abusive
Domestic violence
Domestic violence, also known as domestic abuse, spousal abuse, battering, family violence, and intimate partner violence , is broadly defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by one or both partners in an intimate relationship such as marriage, dating, family, or cohabitation...
boyfriend, in a sympathetic storyline to honor Ridgway's victims. Detective Dave Reichert
Dave Reichert
David George Reichert is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as Sheriff of King County, Washington.-Early life, education and career:...
(Tom Cavanagh
Tom Cavanagh
Thomas "Tom" Cavanagh is a Canadian actor.-Early life:Cavanagh was born in Ottawa, Ontario. He is of Irish descent and was raised in a large Roman Catholic family. Cavanagh moved with his family to Winneba, a small city in Ghana, when he was seven years old. In his teens, the family moved to...
) works the murder cases and stays on the case from beginning to end, including extensive interviews with incarcerated serial killer Ted Bundy
Ted Bundy
Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier...
(James Marsters
James Marsters
James Wesley Marsters is an American actor and musician. Marsters first came to the attention of the general public playing the popular character Spike, a platinum-blond yobbish English vampire in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel from 1997 to 2004...
). In the movie he and another officer face the killer, Gary Ridgway (John Pielmeier
John Pielmeier
John Pielmeier is an American playwright and screenwriter.Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Pielmeier earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in 1970 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1978...
) after tracking his truck down because it was seen picking up a missing woman.
Reception
Barry Garon of Hollywood Reporter wrote, "Using dark colors and jarring images, director Norma Baily tries to infuse the work with suspense and mystery. The story itself, a repetitive tale unfolding at a languid pace, impedes the effort."Cast
- Thomas Cavanagh as Dave ReichertDave ReichertDavid George Reichert is the U.S. Representative for , serving since 2005. He is a member of the Republican Party. He previously served as Sheriff of King County, Washington.-Early life, education and career:...
- Michelle Harrison as Julie Reichert
- Amy DavidsonAmy DavidsonAmy Lynn Davidson is an American actress best known for her role as Kerry Michelle Hennessy in the ABC sitcom 8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter.-Early life and education:...
as Helen 'Hel' Remus - Sharon LawrenceSharon LawrenceSharon Elizabeth Lawrence is an American television actress. She is best known for the role of Sylvia Costas Sipowicz in the Television series NYPD Blue...
as Fiona Remus - Christina LindleyChristina LindleyChristina Lindley is an American actress, fitness model and poker player.-Modeling and acting:Her first big break early on when a photographer discovered her at a mall in Georgia...
as Lynn Mosey - James MarstersJames MarstersJames Wesley Marsters is an American actor and musician. Marsters first came to the attention of the general public playing the popular character Spike, a platinum-blond yobbish English vampire in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off series, Angel from 1997 to 2004...
as Ted BundyTed BundyTheodore Robert "Ted" Bundy was an American serial killer, rapist, kidnapper, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women during the 1970s, and possibly earlier... - John PielmeierJohn PielmeierJohn Pielmeier is an American playwright and screenwriter.Born in Altoona, Pennsylvania, Pielmeier earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Catholic University of America in 1970 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from Pennsylvania State University in 1978...
as Gary RidgwayGary RidgwayGary Leon Ridgway is an American serial killer known as the Green River Killer. He murdered numerous women in Washington during the 1980s and 1990s, earning his nickname when the first five victims were found in the Green River. He strangled them, usually with his arm but sometimes using ligatures... - James RussoJames RussoJames Vincent Russo is an American film and television actor. He has starred in over 90 films in three decades.-Early life:...
as Jeb Dallas - Zak SantiagoZak SantiagoZak Santiago is a Canadian actor and Disc-jockey.Santiago was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He has appeared in many television shows, including Young Blades, Smallville, Robson Arms, Flight 93 and The L Word...
as Seth Imperia - Maya RitterMaya RitterMaya Ritter is a young Canadian actress.- Career :Maya Ritter is a Canadian actress who played the lead role of Molly McIntire in the 2006 television movie Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front.She also starred in The film Finn's Girl as Zelly in 2007. That same year she acted in Hoilday...
as Teen Angela - Brendan FletcherBrendan FletcherBrendan Fletcher is a Canadian actor.-Life and career:Fletcher was born in Comox Valley, British Columbia and went to junior high school at Lake Trail in Courtenay, British Columbia....
as Bobby - Currie GrahamCurrie GrahamCurrie Graham is a Canadian stage, film and television actor. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City....
as Captain Norwell - Jessica HarmonJessica HarmonJessica Harmon is a Canadian film actress. In 2010, she won a Leo Award for Best Performance in a Music, Comedy, or Variety Program or Series for her role in the television pilot Wolf Canyon.-Filmography:...
as Natalie 'Nat' Webley - Aaron HughesAaron HughesAaron William Hughes is a Northern Irish footballer who plays for Fulham. Hughes is able to play centre back, right back or left back, as well as anywhere in midfield. He is usually deployed in a centre half position for his club and country, and is the current Northern Ireland captain...
as Ellie's Boyfriend - Ingrid Rogers as Det. Faye Brooks
- Bret Anthony as Bram Seton
- Dan Augusta as Young Gary Ridgway
- Paige Bannister as Colleen Brockman
- Trisha Benjamin as Marsue Haller
- Sarah Constible as Mary Meehan
- John Fasano as Joe Jakes
- Alicia Johnston as Gary's Mom
- Suzanne Kelly as Opal Mills
- Kristen Sawatzky as Ellie Slater
- Jenna Ullenboom as Wendy Coffield
- Solmund MacPherson as Boy
External links
- The Capture of the Green River Killer at Lifetime Movie NetworkLifetime Movie NetworkLifetime Movie Network is a cable channel that is part of Lifetime Entertainment Services, LLC, a subsidiary of A&E Television Networks, LLC. A&E Television Networks is a joint venture of the Disney-ABC Television Group, Hearst Corporation and NBCUniversal. LMN offers women-oriented movies...