“The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story” premiered on Saturday, September 20th on Lifetime.
Based on a true story, the film stars Brielle Robillard as Alina, Emmy nominee Ashley Jones (“The Bold and The Beautiful”) as Nancy, Sam Trammell as Carl with Steve Byers as William Bradford.
The movie follows 15-year-old Alina Thompson (Brielle Robillard), an aspiring model in Los Angeles during the ’80s, who gets caught in the dangerous web of a serial killer.
Without the knowledge of her parents, Carl (Sam Trammell) and Nancy (Ashley Jones), Alina sneaks off to attend an amateur photo casting call where she meets up-and-coming photographer William Bradford (Steve Byers).
Unbeknownst to Alina, William is a serial killer hiding in plain sight, using his charms to lure aspiring young women into secluded photo shoots that end in unspeakable violence.
After their meeting, Bradford becomes obsessed with Alina and her beauty and ultimately sets his sights on her as his next victim.
Thanks to the protective instincts of Carl and a series of fateful twists, Alina manages to survive, where many others did not.
Brielle Robillard delivers a true breakout performance as Alina, which runs the gamut… Robillard is reminiscent of a young Natalie Dormer (“The Tudors”) meets Annika Noelle (“The Bold and The Beautiful”). Robillard will make the audience feel every emotion imaginable in this wild and bumpy journey.
Sam Trammell is a force of nature as the defensive yet supportive father Carl, while Ashley Jones is just as wonderful as the family matriarch Nancy.
Steve Byers nailed the role of the nefarious William Bradford, and he will certainly have a terrifying affect on the viewers. Each person in the cast brings something unique to this unflinching and angry story.
The Verdict
Overall, “The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story” is one of those gripping thrillers that will keep viewers at the edge of their seats for its entire duration. Its subject matter is timely and relevant, especially in this day and age.
The acting performances all around were remarkable, and the actors should be commended for their brevity and vulnerability in bringing this precarious occurrence to life. The fact that it was inspired by true events makes it even more compelling.
Most importantly, it sheds light on the real Alina Thompson and her extraordinary life story, which more than merited a movie in her honor. In fact, they might be inclined to research Alina and her story after the movie is over.
“The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story” garners 4.5 out of 5 stars. Well done.
Read More: Emmy nominee Ashley Jones interview about “The Girl Who Survived.”
