Before Netflix’s documentary about the Long Island Serial killer was released, a dramatized film,Lost Girls, was made with the help of the victims' families. Both coverthe real-life story of Mari Gilbertand her fight to find out what happened to her missing daughter, Shannan. While searching the Gilgo Beach area for Shannan, the remains of four women, now known asThe Gilgo Four, were found. This sparked a major search of the area and the discovery that a serial killer was on the loose, hunting sex workers in and around Long Island.
Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killeris a three-part factual documentary that coversthe timeline of the Long Island Serial Killerand the events that led up to the arrest of the prime suspect, Rex Heuermann.Lost Girlstakes a very different approach. As Heuermann has not yet faced trial and was not a suspect whenLost Girlswas released,Gone Girlscurrently contains the most up-to-date information about the brutal killings and its prime suspect. That said, it is essential to watchLost Girlstoo, as a companion piece toGone Girls.
Lost Girls Is A Must-Watch Companion Piece To Gone Girls
Lost Girls Is A Dramatization Of True Events
BothLost GirlsandGone Girlsfocus on different aspects of the Long Island Serial Killer case, and withGone Girlsbeing more recent, there is a significant focus on the killer and his arrest. Instead,Lost Girlsspends more time on the mystery and the women at the heart of it, especially Shannan.Lost Girlsadapts the story of Mari Gibert (played by Amy Ryan) as she fights for Shannan’s disappearance to be taken seriously by the police. As this is only the start of the story told inGone Girls, both are a must-watch for the full story.
Gone Girlsis a factual coverage of true events, while some of the scenes fromLost Girlshave been dramatized. Although this means that certain moments and developments did not happen exactly as they were portrayed, the movie captures the emotion and spirit of Mari’s turmoil.Lost Girlshas some excellent quotesthat represent the bias and prejudice shown during the investigation.The Long Island Serial Killer mostly preyed on sex workers, who were rarely taken seriously, leading to Mari saying in frustration, “It’s all men this, Men that. The girls are just prostitutes, hookers, sex workers…”
Why Gone Girls Was Made When Lost Girls Already Existed
Lost Girls Presents The Mystery To Audiences, While Gone Girls Continues The Story
The ending ofLost Girlspresents one main fictional suspect as the Long Island Serial Killer, but based on real-life details in the case, suggests that he may have been working with another person. However,Lost Girlswas released in 2020, before Rex Heuermann was arrested for the killings, so theLost Girlsending has become an imagining rather than a true story. Now that a suspect has been arrested and charged with the murders of seven of the women found in the area, the case needed an update. This is whyGone Girlswas made.
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Lost Girlshas a 72% positive approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and it is an essential movie to watch to get more insight into the Long Island Serial Killer case, along with Netflix’sGone Girls. Both productions cover perspectives that need to be told. Many true-crime shows cover the catching of the killer, asGone Girlsdid withRex Heuermann and his upcoming trialwhile giving less time to the families of the victims.Lost Girlsputs the focus on Mari Gilbert and her fight for justice, whileGone Girlscontinues the story.
