Lifetime Movie Network’s latest offering, The Capture of the Green River Killer, is a miniseries (a first for the network) covering the 20 year search for one of the country’s most prolific serial killers.
Tom Cavanaugh, from “Ed”, plays Dave Reichert, a Washington State detective who becomes obsessed with finding the gruesome murderer. The interesting thing about the miniseries is that it’s told through the eyes of Amy Davidson’s character, Helen Remus. Helen is a runaway who turns to prostitution in an effort to get away from her mother’s abusive boyfriend. By the end of Part 1, she’s had a run-in with the GRK without even knowing it. By part 2 (airing Monday), Helen has disappeared and Reichert is on her trail. He consults with Spike from Buffy (James Marsters, playing convicted serial killer Ted Bundy) and finally finds the man he’s been hunting for over the course of 20 years. The miniseries is based on the book Chasing the Devil: My Twenty-Year Quest to Capture the Green River Killer by David Reichert (now a US Congressman).
This is a very strong movie. Tom Cavanaugh and Amy Davidson are just two of some really strong performances as they make you feel and understand every pain they’re feeling, every frustration they’re feeling. It’s really intriguing. While the story matter isn’t the most uplifting, and too many deaths along the way don’t lead to much of a happy ending, the miniseries is a very solid one and it’s worth checking out.
This is a very strong movie. Tom Cavanaugh and Amy Davidson are just two of some really strong performances as they make you feel and understand every pain they’re feeling, every frustration they’re feeling. It’s really intriguing. While the story matter isn’t the most uplifting, and too many deaths along the way don’t lead to much of a happy ending, the miniseries is a very solid one and it’s worth checking out.
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written by This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , April 01, 2008
The moving was informing and interesting. It makes you more aware of what goes on and what could happen? At the time these began I was nothing but teenager in highschool myself and never even realize this was going on. Now with girls teens of my own, I want so much to make them aware this can happen to them or to anybody, it just doesn't have to be a runaway.
I have question? I want to know if Helen Remus, character is based on true missing girl/runaway or if her character was fictious, for making of the series.
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written by Cindy Rae , April 01, 2008
I have never been so connected to a Lifetime movie before, it was truely invigorating and intense. I was absolutley mezmorized by this film and want to know more about the case. I was thinking the same thing, is Helen Remus actually one of the missing girls or was she just an extra character to give the film something more. I have been trying to look her up on the internet but have had no luck finding anything other than Amy Davidson's character in the film. Either way the film was fantastic. I hope it opened some eyes up to the world we live in and that anything can happen to you. I hope they continue to make more films like this one based on ohter true cases.
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written by sissy , April 02, 2008
I loved the movie. I seem to have the same question as everyone else....Was the character of Helen Remus one of the missing girls or a fictuous character?
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written by dave , April 02, 2008
i believe her character was fiction cause they never really said there was a real helen remus i 'm pretty sure she was made up cause in the second part if she was dead do you think she would be talking and saying they never found her or that he killed her . think about it ppl it just was a overwhelming performance by the lovely amy davidson i'm such a big fan of hers she so good and shes so good she makes you believe she is really one of the victims
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written by Amanda , April 04, 2008
No. Helen was not an actual victim and doesnt fit any of the actual victims backgrounds. Hel is supposed to be a representation of all the victims rolled into one person. I am a true crime junky, especially when it comes to serial killers. I know this story like the back of my hand and there was never anyone with the name Helen. Not even a middle name. Her character is supposed to represent the collective voice of the victims that was the driving force for David Reichert to keep pushing as hard as he did. I thought it was a great show but it portrays the task force as being completely stupid except for Det. Reichert and thats not fair to the task force. It was a collective effort to catch Ridgway and no one should take all the credit.
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written by Teresa , April 04, 2008
thanks for that information Amanda!! i was looking for Hel's pic until i read what u wrote!!
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written by Christy , April 04, 2008
I'm confused, i was actually thinking Helen Remus was one of the GRK's victims. I think that was a good idea in theory, but it just leaves you wondering. It's not possible one of the green river killer's victims had a traumatic childhood which later lead to prostitution?
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written by Rana , April 05, 2008
love this movie!!im a big mystery movie fan.!
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written by Kara , April 07, 2008
I was actually living up there when the trial was going on. My eyes were glued to the King5, Komo and NWNews stations when he got his sentence. It was kind of creepy seeing him being carted around to different locations around the Green River to locate the rest of his victims though. Driving by differnt roped off areas seeing people carefully dig was something I never thought I would see in such a beautiful place that is normally called "The Emerald City". So, when I saw that the movie "Capture of the Green River Killer" was being made on LMN, I was pretty excited. It was a very well put together and moving story and gave me a better understanding of the trial. Tom Cavanaugh did a great job playing Dave Reichert. Amy Davidson's fictional character was a nice little addition that gave it more emotion. Those two made you "feel" the movie instead of just watch it. All in all................great performances, great movie.
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written by Cherie , April 11, 2008
I was wondering about the character Helen Ramus. I want to know did Gary also kill her or at the end of the movie did he deny killing her because she looked him dead in his eyes?
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written by thomas , April 11, 2008
and i was looking for hel pic too until i read what you had wrote
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written by Steve , April 11, 2008
I recorded the movie and watched the whole thing in one sitting. Semms long to most people, but I was born here ( the Puget Sound area ) and have always lived here. I was 24 when the first victim was found. Working near the green river, I drove past the first sites twice daily. You could watch every other driver turn their head toward the "Oxbow" in the river where those early victims were found. This went on for years. Then it all started up again when Ridgway was caught in 2001.
Many things in the movie are aggravatingly incorrect to a local. The "Strip" is many miles long with constantly changing scenery, and not the seedy Downtown 3 block area you see in the movie. Most of the victims were left in various wooded locations all over central and south King County. Only the first few found were in the river, or even near it. The Public was very aware that the King County Sheriff's Dept. was working their rear-ends off, and devoting a whole lot of the officers to the hunt. The local Press, especially the Low-Grade Seattle dailies were the villains in shouting down the investigation. Local Politics jumped aboard and cut the funding. We are proud of the work that the Law folks did, believe it.
What was REALLY CREEPY was that Gary Ridgway was not in a jail at all when he was being held for questioning and leading detectives to sites where he left bodies. He was held in an office building right across the street from where I worked. In fact, the county moves our Management staff out to use it for "Other Purposes". We had no idea, but when it was announced after he was moved of to jail it made me ill knowing he had been mere FEET from me for over a year, held in a converted Human Resources office !
Hope this adds a little something for those who enjoyed the movie. I know I did !
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written by pitypot , April 14, 2008
My cousin worked with Ridgway in Renton. They all knew Ridgway as Green River Gary at Kenworth. He lived about six miles from me by Lake Geneva in Federal Way, Wa. I've racked my brain trying to figure if I've ever seen him at the Sea-tac Mall or at grocery store, but I can't recall ever seeing him or meeting him anywhere.
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written by George R Bilyk Jr , April 21, 2008
Good movie. I wanna read Riechearts bbok. Im currently reading The Search For the reen River Kller. Good book, get it
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written by lifetime guy , June 03, 2008
I have only just now seen the 1st part. I too had the Helen question, which is what led me here. My opinion after reading everyone else's is: Helen is real, her name is not Helen, and her circumstances differ from those portrayed. But sadly there are many Helen's who dissappeared from the area, and no one knows for sure what happened after that. Helen represents everyone who did not get to be properly recognized.
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written by Local Girl , June 03, 2008
I watched last night because I grew up here.. in Puget Sound. I had just graduated from High School in 82. A few years before I had friends in Sea Tac and use to go to the strip everynow and then. No.. I wasnt a prostitute. I was lucky though. My friends and I would hitch hike to get down there. How stupid! But back then... people didnt think things like that happened.
When Gary was arrested I use to wonder why the heck he looked so familiar. I found out that I lived near him... probably saw him around. Creepy!
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written by lifetimefan , June 04, 2008
I just watched the second half tonight! it was well made i had a tear in my eye at the end! i like all of you had the same question about Helen remus which brought me here! thanks for all the information and answering my question! as a 19 year old its very scary to see girls that were my age takin so violently but it also make u more aware and cautious! i just pray that someday the missing women and there family will find peace
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written by RENEE ACATECA, RICHBURG, SC , June 04, 2008
MY HEART TRULY GOES OUT TO THE VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I TOO THOUGHT HELEM REMUS WAS THE REALNAME OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS. IF SHE WAS REAL AND PROTRAYED UNDER A FICTIONAL NAME, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW HER REAL NAME. THIS WAS A SAD AND TRUE STORY. I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO SEE HIM DIE FOR WHAT HE DID, BUT I CAN UNDERSTAND WHY THEY WENT WITH THE DEAL. AT LEAST SOME CLOSURE WAS ACHIEVED. AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE SOME HOW SOME DAY. WHEREABOUTS OF SOME OF THE OTHER MISSING WOMEN CAN BE DISCOVERED, AND AT LAST LAID TO REST. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!!!
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written by Julie Chan , June 04, 2008
Please help. In the movie when Helen was picked up by him she was going through his wallet. In the wallet was a picture of his son and then behind it another picture. My husband and I both thought that that picture looked like the guy in the flashback of when Reichert was a child and getting abused. By showing that pic are they saying that he was the guy that attacked Reichert as a child or what?
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written by Haley , June 15, 2008
dave didn't get abused by gary. Lil davy got abused by his father. now the pic was the boy in the flashback. you see when gary was a child he stabbed a boy. the flash back was showing us the killer's (gary's) past.
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written by U Girl , June 17, 2008
I've watched this movie and bought a copy of Sheirff David Reichert's book, Chasing the Devil. There are a lot of questions that I have that I would really like answers to. I'm hoping the book will help me with that. Gary doesn't deserve to have all the publicity he's getting! It's sad that someone could be such an animal and have a son and not give regards to another person's life. The day he die's will probably be a big media event. People will be happy and relieved that he's gone. I hope hell is everything he's put these victims and families through.
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written by bubbyy , September 21, 2008
what are the names of the girls he killed
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written by KIARRA , September 26, 2008
WELL IM ONLY 13 YEARS OLD.IVE JUST SAW THE MOIVIE LAST NIGHT.WHEN IT FIRST CAME ON MY MOTHER THOUGHT IT WAS STUPID BUT AFTER U WATCH ....U JUST THINK HOW CAN SOMEBODY DO THAT TO PEOPLE AND THEN THERE NOT DOIN IT B CUZ OF REVENAGE THERE DOIN AS THERE CAREER ....I MEAN HOW CAN U LIVE WITH YOUR SELF!!IT MAKES ME THINK ABOUT MY LIFE....I MEAN IM YOUNG...U KNO AND THAT RITE THERE IS NOT SOMETING THAT U JUST IMAGINE..THAT IS LIFE U KNO AND THOSES GURLS DISERVE TO BE HERE....AND I THINK THAT THERE WAS NO REALLY NO Helen Remus BUT THERE WAS A VICTIM IN HER POSITION....AND WHEATHER OR NOT...AT LEAST 1 OF THOSES GURLS HAD THE SAME THING GOING ACROSS THERE MINE AS Helen Remus DID BUT NONE OF EM NOT EVEN 1 DISERVED TO DIE..
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written by Brokesoul1 , September 29, 2008
I too have read and seen alot on the GRK over the years. I was like many of you on here that was clued to the LIFETIME mini series. I think the writting was very well done and that the character of HELEN was a very nice touch to the movie, as a way to keep you more ' intouch ' with the victims. I also a gree with the out come , with him not being killed so the families could at least get some type of closure for their lost loved ones.... Bravo on the details of this show. Tom the lead actor deserves alot of credit for his believable acting. Nice job to all. On a more serious note: TO THE VICTIMS FAMILIES THAT WERE DISCOVERD AND ALLOWED TO BURY I SEND YOU ALL MY PRAYERS AND THOUGHTS. TO THE FAMILES WHO NEVER WERE ABLE TO SEE THE ORDEAL COME TO A CLOSING , I DO HOPE ONE DAY YOU ALL SEEK AND FIND ALL THOSE LOST TEARS AND YOUR LOVED ONES.
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written by Dakota , April 29, 2009
The green river killing movie was one of the best mass murdering movies that i have ever seen. It shows you thay crime never pays and that there are many ways to capture a murderer. I loved how they used Ted Bundy in the movie and in real life to get in the head of a mureder. I also loved the character hel because she did a awsome job portraying how the prostitutes probley felt it makes you relize that the people he killed wernt just prostitutes but were people
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