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Childhood trauma can have all kinds of different effects on young victims. Some manage to go on to live normal, happy lives, while others never really stop suffering. In The Girl Who Got Away, a seemingly well-adjusted victim finds herself terrorized by her past.
The Girl Who Got Away catches up with kidnapping victim Christina Bowden (Lexi Johnson) twenty years after she was the only girl to escape from serial killer Elizabeth Caulfield (Kaye Tuckerman). Now a teacher who’s working to adopt a troubled young girl, she seems to have built a nice, peaceful life. But then, while Elizabeth is being transferred to a new prison, she manages to escape from custody. And while small-town officer Jamie Nwosu (Chukwudi Iwuji) parks outside Christina’s home to protect her from Elizabeth’s revenge, those closest to her are found brutally murdered.
As the authorities continue to search for the escaped killer, her only surviving victim goes through a wide range of emotions. She’s afraid, knowing that Elizabeth could very well be coming to finish the job. She’s defiant, not wanting to allow Elizabeth to ruin her life a second time. As she tries to go about her life as usual, the memories of her violent childhood come flooding back, haunting her dreams. And as people close to Christina continue to die, the deaths raise so many questions: is she really a victim, or is it all just an act? Did the violence of her childhood instill her with her own violent streak?
While the story is definitely suspenseful, causing viewers to hold their breath, wondering whether this ruthless killer will come for Christina—or whether someone else will die first—there’s more to this story than just a vengeful killer. There’s also the psychology of what the young victim experienced—and how it’s followed her into adulthood. Perhaps even more interesting, however, is the story behind Elizabeth’s crimes—what happened to the girls, how it all happened, and why. But while Jamie does take some time to examine that part of the story, his investigation leads to more questions than answers. And when the film comes to its end, it all feels a little confusing—and not especially satisfying.
The Girl Who Got Away is definitely an eerie, haunting film—and suspenseful, too. But in rushing through its conclusion, it misses the opportunity to explore more of the characters and their fascinating stories.
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