Common Sense Media Review
By Melissa Camacho
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen abduction drama highlights strength and survival.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story
What's the Story?
Executive produced by Elizabeth Smart, THE GIRL WHO ESCAPED: THE KARA ROBINSON STORY is a dramatization of the survival story of a kidnapped South Carolina teenager. It's June 24, 2002, and 15-year-old Kara Robinson (Katie Douglas) is outside watering plants at her friend Jess's (Sophia Carriere) home, when serial killer Richard Evonitz (Kristian Bruun) forces her into his vehicle at gunpoint. After being restrained, assaulted, and drugged in his apartment for 18 hours she manages to escape, but not before memorizing as many details as she can to help the police find him.
Is It Any Good?
The dramatic TV movie offers a stylized yet fact-based interpretation of what happened to Kara Robinson, and how she survived 18 terrifying hours of a brutal abduction. Most of what's presented is contextualized within a narrative underscoring Robinson's mental strength, which gave her the ability to withstand what was happening to her while strategically finding ways to stay alive and escape. In doing so, despite a fair amount of violence, the movie manages to stop short of being too graphic. Granted, The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story would benefit from more focus on Robinson's recovery process and success to make it as informative as it is sensational. But it still delivers an empowering message about how it's possible to endure a horrible ordeal and find healing after it's over.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about what specific things a person can do to stay safe if they're approached by a stranger or held against their will. Why is it important to have this conversation, even if it's difficult to talk about?
What are audiences supposed to take away from The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story? Is it how strong Robinson was (and is)? Survival strategies? Or does it mostly exploit her experience for the sake of entertainment?
TV Details
- Premiere date : February 11, 2023
- Cast : Katie Douglas , Kristian Bruun , Debra Robinson
- Network : Lifetime
- Genre : Drama
- Character Strengths : Compassion , Courage , Perseverance , Self-control
- TV rating :
- Last updated : July 26, 2024
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