Lifetime’s movie “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” is a gripping true crime thriller directed by Greg Beeman. It tells the real story of Ruth Finley from the 1970s and 1980s. Ruth, a simple housewife, faces a frightening stalking case after her husband Ed has a heart attack. While Ed fights for his life, Ruth starts getting scary threats. With the BTK killer terrorizing the city, Ruth fears she might be the next victim. The film’s filming locations play a crucial role in making the audience feel the suspense.
Where Was The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story Filmed?
“The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” is set in Wichita, Kansas, where the real-life events happened. But the movie was actually filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Let’s look at the main filming locations:
Vancouver, British Columbia
Most of the movie was filmed in Vancouver, known for its beautiful scenery and bustling film industry. The film team transformed Vancouver to look like Wichita from the 1970s and 1980s. This included filming in various parts of the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area.
The location managers Karry Croft, Brook James, and Jessica Olsen found perfect spots in Vancouver to stand in for Wichita. The film’s cinematographer Mike Kam, production designer Babak Golkar, set decorator Jan Sikora, and production manager Celeste Crowe helped create the movie’s intense atmosphere.
Recreating Wichita in Vancouver
The film team had to build sets to recreate important places from Ruth’s story, like:
Wichita Police Department Building: Several sets were used to create the police department and interrogation rooms.
Ruth’s House: The crew found a suitable house in Vancouver to represent Ruth’s home.
Southwestern Bell Telecommunication Company: They recreated Ruth’s workplace to look like the offices from that era.
Filming Outdoor Scenes
The movie also needed outdoor locations to show the BTK killer’s dark activities. The crew used Vancouver’s streets and alleys to depict these scenes. For the scary chase sequences, they chose the lush, forested areas around Vancouver. These locations added to the film’s suspense and made the story more realistic.
Cast Information
Teri Hatcher plays Ruth Finley. Hatcher, who has also been in “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman” and “Desperate Housewives”, brings Ruth to life. This character is one of her few dramatic performances in a television film.
Tahmoh Penikett plays Ed Finley, Ruth’s caring husband. Penikett is famous for his roles in Battlestar Galactica and Supernatural.
James Ralph portrays Dennis Rader, the BTK killer. Ralph has experience as a stunt performer and actor in shows like Arrow and Supergirl.
Eduard Witzke plays Lt. Bernie Drowatzky. He has previously acted in TV movies like Dawn and A Tale of Two Christmases.
Other cast members include Victoria Bidewell, Stew McLean, Sabrina Miniaci, Christopher Logan, Dustin MacDougall, Candice Hunter, Moses Wamukoya, John Paul McGlynn, Sheldon Landry, and actresses Mia Simser and Mischa Colorado as younger versions of Ruth.
The filmmakers chose Vancouver, British Columbia, for filming “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story”. This location helped them create the right atmosphere for this thrilling movie, making it feel like the real events in Wichita. With its gripping story and well-chosen locations, the movie draws the audience into Ruth Finley’s frightening experience, making it a must-watch true crime thriller.
Official Trailer
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) – The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story
Q: Where was “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” filmed?
A: “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” was filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Although the movie is set in Wichita, Kansas, the filmmakers chose Vancouver for its versatile locations and film-friendly environment. Various spots in the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area were used to recreate the look and feel of Wichita during the 1970s and 1980s.
Q: When did the filming for “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” take place?
A: Filming for “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” took place in the early months of 2024. The production team completed the shoot within a month, relying on efficient planning and a dedicated crew to stay on schedule.
Q: Why was Vancouver chosen as the filming location for a story set in Wichita?
A: Vancouver was chosen because of its diverse settings and strong film infrastructure, which made it an ideal stand-in for Wichita. The city’s range of urban and natural landscapes allowed the filmmakers to effectively recreate the different environments needed for the film, from residential areas to dense woods.
Q: When is the release date for “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story”?
A: “The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story” was released on May 29, 2024 on Lifetime.
Q: How did the production team make Vancouver look like Wichita from the 1970s and 1980s?
A: The production team transformed Vancouver into Wichita by using detailed set designs, careful location selection, and period-appropriate props and costumes. Sets were built to recreate key locations such as the Wichita Police Department, Ruth’s home, and her workplace, while outdoor scenes utilized Vancouver’s varied landscapes to depict different parts of Wichita.
