Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey
By Barbara Shulgasser-Parker,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Girl uses smarts to escape from rapist; violence.
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Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey
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What's the Story?
BELIEVE ME: THE ABDUCTION OF LISA MCVEY is a brutal account of a 1984 kidnapping and sexual assault of a 17-year-old Florida girl named Lisa McVey (Katie Douglas). McVey had also been abused by an alcoholic mother and a grandmother (Kim Horsman) who allowed her boyfriend (Bruno Verdoni) to rape the underage girl. The abuse continued as even the police didn't believe her report of her ordeal, partly because her descriptions seemed too detailed to be credible. All that changes when Sgt. Larry Pinkerton (James Elliott), head of sex crimes, takes her at her word and sees the connection between her story and the recent rape-murders of numerous local women. The horrors of Lisa's attacks, however difficult to watch, set up the rest of the action for an informative police procedural. Lisa wasn't sure she'd survive, but she planted her fingerprints, hair samples, and blood all around the perpetrator's apartment and car in the hopes that if she didn't live at least her efforts might help the police catch the guy. Note that the perpetrator was caught based on McVey's invaluable help. After murdering at least 10 women, he pled guilty and was sentenced to numerous life sentences in 1985. Although he was eventually sentenced to death, a series of reversals delayed his execution by the state of Florida until May 19, 2019.
Is It Any Good?
Once the action in Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey focuses on the investigation leading to the capture of Lisa's attacker, director Jim Donovan provides a gripping and satisfying narrative. Lisa's high intelligence, astounding eye for detail, and unusual ability to recall the tiniest but most helpful particulars has the audience rooting for her all the way. The movie emphasizes how she used her skills for placating her uncaring mother and grandmother and the grandmother's sexually-abusive boyfriend to save herself from her murderous abductor. Katie Douglas gives a searing performance of a girl with courage and smarts to spare.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about a parent's responsibility to kids. What kind of mother do you think Lisa McVey had? What kind of grandmother?
Why do you think the police didn't believe McVey at first? What are some prejudices police officers may bring to crimes involving teens? How much do you think McVey's youth and female-ness influenced the way police treated her at first?
Why do you think McVey became a law enforcement officer herself?
Movie Details
- In theaters: September 30, 2018
- On DVD or streaming: June 4, 2021
- Cast: Katie Douglas, David James Elliott, Rossif Sutherland, Kim Horsman, Bruno Verdoni
- Director: Jim Donovan
- Studio: Lifetime
- Genre: Drama
- Character Strengths: Courage
- Run time: 87 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: October 8, 2022
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