Lost Girls

Movie Trailer

Release Date
March 13, 2020

Genre
Crime, Drama, Mystery

Cast & Crew

• Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert
• Thomasin McKenzie as Sherre Gilbert
• Gabriel Byrne as Commissioner Richard Dormer
• Lola Kirke as Kim Gilbert
• Oona Laurence as Sarra Gilbert
• Dean Winters as Dean Bostick
• Miriam Shor as Lorraine Ela

Director
Liz Garbus

Other Movies Director is Known For

• What Happened, Miss Simone? (2015)
• The Farm: Angola, USA (1998)
• All In: The Fight for Democracy (2020)

Producer
Anne Carey, Kevin McCormick, David Kennedy, Liz Garbus

Writer
Michael Werwie (based on the book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery by Robert Kolker)

Budget
Estimated $7 million

Production Company
Langley Park Productions, Archer Gray, Netflix

Running Time
95 minutes

Languages
English

Maturity Rating
R (for language throughout, disturbing images, and some sexual content)

Content Advisory

• Strong language
• Depictions of violence
• Disturbing images
• Themes of grief, trauma, and the failures of the justice system

Movie Story
Lost Girls is a gripping crime drama based on the true story of the Long Island serial killer and the relentless efforts of Mari Gilbert (Amy Ryan) to find her missing daughter, Shannan. The film opens with Shannan, a young sex worker, disappearing after placing a frantic 911 call from a gated community in Oak Beach, Long Island. When the police show little interest in investigating her disappearance, Mari takes matters into her own hands.

As Mari digs deeper into her daughter’s case, she discovers that Shannan is not the only woman to have gone missing in the area. The film follows Mari as she uncovers a pattern of similar disappearances involving other young women, all of whom were sex workers. Her determination to find her daughter leads her to confront the police, the media, and the community’s indifference toward the victims.

Along the way, Mari’s search puts her in contact with other families of missing women, and together, they push for justice and answers in a system that has repeatedly failed them. The film also explores Mari’s complicated relationship with her other daughters, Sherre (Thomasin McKenzie), Kim (Lola Kirke), and Sarra (Oona Laurence), as they navigate their own grief and frustration.

Lost Girls is a powerful and emotional portrayal of a mother’s fight for justice, highlighting the systemic failures that allow vulnerable women to fall through the cracks. It’s a haunting exploration of how society values certain lives over others and the lengths one woman will go to find the truth.

Special Effects
The film’s special effects are understated, focusing on creating a gritty and realistic atmosphere rather than relying on visual spectacle. The cinematography captures the bleak and isolated settings of Long Island, emphasizing the sense of despair and urgency that drives Mari’s search. The use of natural lighting and handheld camera work adds to the film’s documentary-like feel, grounding the story in reality and highlighting the harshness of the environments in which these women lived and disappeared.

Box Office Performance
Lost Girls was released on Netflix, bypassing a traditional theatrical release. The film was well-received on the platform, particularly among viewers interested in true crime dramas. While Netflix does not typically release detailed viewership statistics, the film gained attention for its strong performances and its exploration of real-life events.

Filming Locations

• Long Island, New York, USA
• New York City, New York, USA

Notable Quotes

• “We have to be our own heroes. No one else is coming.” – Mari Gilbert
• “They don’t care about us. We have to make them care.” – Mari Gilbert
• “Why does it have to be your daughter who gets all the attention? What about the rest of them?” – Lorraine Ela

Behind-the-Scenes

• Lost Girls is based on Robert Kolker’s non-fiction book Lost Girls: An Unsolved American Mystery, which chronicles the true story of the Long Island serial killer and the search for justice by the victims’ families.
• Director Liz Garbus is known for her work in documentaries, which informed her approach to Lost Girls, giving the film a raw and realistic tone that emphasizes the real-life implications of the story.
• Amy Ryan’s portrayal of Mari Gilbert was widely praised for its emotional depth and intensity, capturing the relentless determination of a mother fighting for her daughter.

Awards

• None, but the film received critical acclaim for its performances, particularly Amy Ryan’s, and its portrayal of the systemic issues surrounding the case.

Final Verdict
Lost Girls is a compelling and heartbreaking crime drama that shines a light on the systemic failures that allow the most vulnerable in society to be overlooked. Amy Ryan delivers a powerful performance as Mari Gilbert, bringing urgency and raw emotion to the role. The film’s gritty realism and focus on the human cost of indifference make it a thought-provoking watch. While the story is rooted in true crime, it also serves as a broader commentary on the value of human life and the struggles faced by those seeking justice for their loved ones.

IMDb Rating
6.1/10