Aman Goyal
Lifetime’s ‘The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story,’ directed by Greg Beeman, is a true crime thriller based on the story of Ruth Finley during the 1970s and 1980s. A quiet housewife, she becomes a victim of a stalking case following her husband Ed’s heart attack. As he fights for his life in the hospital, Ruth begins receiving mysterious threats, plunging her into panic. With the city terrorized by the psychopathic BTK killer, Ruth fears she will be the next victim as menacing phone calls escalate into disturbing letters.
Amid the cops’ pursuit of BTK, Ruth is abducted, sending shockwaves through the community. Her sudden reappearance shortly after leaves the investigators baffled. New evidence emerges, and the authorities consider the unsettling notion that the perpetrator might be someone intimately connected to her. As Ruth struggles to distinguish between reality and delusion, the filming locations draw the audience in, prompting them to wonder where in the real world the on-screen drama was filmed.
The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story Filming Locations
‘The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story’ is set in the city of Wichita in Kansas, where the notorious serial killer tormented the local community for years. However, contrary to the historical events, the movie was actually filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia. Shot on a micro-budget within a month, the production relied heavily on local talent, including frequent collaborators of the Lifetime Movie Network. This meticulous work keeps viewers — those familiar with the case or not — on the edge of their seats.
Vancouver, British Columbia
Like many Lifetime movies, ‘The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story’ was shot extensively in the Greater Vancouver Metropolitan Area. The location management team, including Karry Croft, Brook James, and Jessica Olsen, sought worthy regional sites. Cinematographer Mike Kam, production designer Babak Golkar, set decorator Jan Sikora, and production manager Celeste Crowe worked together to blend the suspenseful elements of the thriller with the dramatic, investigative angles.
The scouting team successfully located places that could raise the film’s thrilling nature and disguise the Rain City as the Midwestern state from four decades ago. The production required several sets to recreate the Wichita Police Department building, interrogation rooms, Ruth’s house, and her workplace, which authentically mirrored the offices of Southwestern Bell Telecommunication Company from that era.
Outside the studio, the crew utilized ideal spots to depict the BTK killer’s dark deeds in desolate alleys and shadowy streets. The haunting chase sequences, set in the woods, were also filmed in the lush, forested areas around Vancouver. This choice of location allowed the filmmakers to create an authentic and chilling portrayal of the story’s events, contributing to the film’s overall tension and — more importantly — realism.
The Killer Inside: The Ruth Finley Story Cast
Teri Hatcher stars in the lead role of Ruth Finley. Known for her roles as Lois Lane in the classic 90s series ‘Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,’ Bond girl Paris Carver in ‘Tomorrow Never Dies,’ and Susan Meyer in ‘Desperate Housewives,’ Hatcher brings depth to the character of Ruth in one of the rare dramatic outings of her career. Her shift towards television movies has yielded titles like ‘A Kiss Before Christmas,’ ‘How to Fall in Love by Christmas,’ and ‘Christmas at the Chalet.’ Playing her first-ever real-life character, Hatcher balanced a hectic schedule, traveling between Los Angeles and Europe before heading to Vancouver for filming.
Tahmoh Penikett portrays Ed Finley, Ruth’s supportive husband. Penikett is best remembered for his role as Karl Agathon AKA Helo in ‘Battlestar Galactica’ and as the fallen angel Gadreel in ‘Supernatural.’ He has also appeared in the TV movies ‘Jonah’ and ‘Bones of Crows’ and the miniseries ‘Devil in Ohio.’ Stunt performer and actor James Ralph takes on the role of the menacing murderer Dennis Rader, aka the BTK Killer. Ralph has worked as a stunt double on extensive projects, including the CW shows ‘Arrow’ and ‘Supergirl,’ where he also played minor roles.
Eduard Witzke, who has worked in TV movies ‘Dawn’ and ‘A Tale of Two Christmases,’ portrays Lt. Bernie Drowatzky. Additionally, the movie also features Victoria Bidewell as Susan, Stew McLean as a farmer, Sabrina Miniaci as news anchor, Christopher Logan as Brander, Dustin MacDougall as the stalker, Candice Hunter as Fay Finley, Moses Wamukoya as an officer, John Paul McGlynn as a café manager, Sheldon Landry as a shopper, and actresses Mia Simser and Mischa Colorado as younger versions of Ruth in the flashback sequences.
Read More: Lifetime’s The Killer Inside: True Story of Ruth Finley, Explained
