Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018)
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A young woman's harrowing survival of a serial killer's abduction leads to a groundbreaking investigation.
The story
Seventeen-year-old Lisa McVey lives in Tampa, Florida, where she is subjected to abuse by her grandmother's boyfriend. One night, while returning from her job at a doughnut shop, Lisa is kidnapped by a man named Bobby Joe Long. She is held captive for 26 hours, during which she manages to leave forensic evidence and memorize details about her captor. After being released in a wooded area, she returns home and eventually comes into contact with Sergeant Larry Pinkerton. While other investigators find her detailed account suspicious, Pinkerton believes her story and begins a joint effort to identify her abductor.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
Seventeen-year-old Lisa McVey lives in Tampa, Florida, with her grandmother and her boyfriend, Morris, who abuses her. One night, Lisa is kidnapped by serial killer Bobby Joe Long. He holds her captive for 26 hours, during which she remains bound and blindfolded but manages to leave hair and fingerprints behind while secretly observing her surroundings. After being released in a wooded area, she returns home and is eventually taken to a police station. Sergeant Larry Pinkerton, who specializes in sex crimes, takes her case. While other detectives find her detailed information suspicious, Pinkerton believes her. Forensic testing on her clothes reveals fibers matching those found on several other victims. As they work together, Lisa's home life is addressed, leading to Morris's arrest. Pinkerton and Lisa eventually identify Bobby's vehicle and location. Bobby is arrested on November 16, 1984, and Lisa is hailed as a hero. The film concludes with a postscript detailing Lisa's later life as a deputy sergeant and Bobby's execution in 2019.
- First release year
- 2018
- Runtime (minutes)
- 87
- Production countries
- Canada
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Jim Donovan
- Writers
- Christina Welsh · writer
- Cast and characters
- Katie Douglas; Rossif Sutherland; David James Elliott
- Genres
- crime; drama
- Themes
- survival; justice; victim advocacy
- Tone and mood
- serious; tense
- Setting
- Tampa, Florida in 1984
- Premise and plot tags
- true crime; serial killer; based on true events
- Source material / true-story basis
- true story of Lisa McVey
- Reception
- The film was well-received enough to win several Canadian Screen Awards and receive multiple nominations for its production and performances.
- Awards and nominations
- Canadian Screen Award · Best TV Movie · 2020 · win; Canadian Screen Award · Best Writing in a Television Film (Christina Welsh) · 2020 · win; Canadian Screen Award · Best Lead Performance in a Television Film or Miniseries (Douglas) · 2020 · nomination; Canadian Screen Award · Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series or Program (Sutherland) · 2020 · nomination; Canadian Screen Award · Best Direction in a Television Film (Donovan) · 2020 · nomination; Canadian Screen Award · Best Photography in a Drama Program or Series (Sasha Moric) · 2020 · nomination; ACTRA Award · Outstanding Performance by an Actress from ACTRA's Toronto chapter · 2019 · nomination; Directors Guild of Canada · Best Production Design in a Television Film (Helen Kotsonis) · nomination; Directors Guild of Canada · Best Editing in a Television Film (Lisa Grootenboer) · nomination; Directors Guild of Canada · Best Sound Editing in a Television Film (Brian Eimer, Michael Bonini) · nomination
- Production trivia
- The film had a special theatrical screening in Tampa at the same theater where the real kidnapper was arrested.; The real Lisa McVey Noland attended the screening in Tampa.; The film was released on Netflix worldwide in 2021.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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