Lifetime has once again delivered a powerful and deeply unsettling true-crime dramatization with Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story, which premiered on January 12, 2026. The two-hour film tells the harrowing real-life story of Heather Robinson, who as a 19-year-old in 1998 was abducted, held captive for eight years, and subjected to unimaginable psychological and physical abuse by her captor, a man who convinced her family and authorities she had simply run away. The movie, based on Heather’s own memoir and extensive interviews, has already become one of Lifetime’s most-watched originals of the year, earning praise for its unflinching honesty, strong performances, and refusal to sensationalize trauma.

The story begins in small-town Oregon in 1998. Heather, a bright and trusting college freshman, is lured by a charismatic older man named John Edward Robinson (played with chilling restraint by Tom Everett Scott). Robinson presents himself as a wealthy businessman and promises Heather a glamorous life. Instead, he kidnaps her, moves her to a remote property, and begins a campaign of control that includes physical violence, sexual abuse, and psychological manipulation so severe that Heather eventually believed she had nowhere else to go. For eight years, her family and police were led to believe she had voluntarily disappeared, with forged letters and staged sightings keeping the case cold.

The film is anchored by a breakout performance from rising actress Lily Gladstone as Heather. Gladstone brings quiet strength and heartbreaking vulnerability to the role, portraying Heather’s slow descent into despair and her eventual, courageous escape in 2006. “Heather’s story is about survival, but also about the way abusers steal not just your body, but your sense of reality,” Gladstone said in a press interview. Tom Everett Scott’s portrayal of Robinson is equally effective — never cartoonishly evil, but disturbingly ordinary and manipulative, making his crimes feel even more terrifying.

Director Rachel Talalay (Tank Girl, Doctor Who) keeps the tone restrained yet gripping, avoiding graphic exploitation while never shying away from the psychological horror of captivity. The film intercuts Heather’s imprisonment with scenes of her family’s anguish and the police investigation that ultimately cracked the case when Robinson’s other victims came forward. The final act — Heather’s escape and Robinson’s arrest — is portrayed with taut suspense and quiet dignity.

The real Heather Robinson, now in her 40s, served as a consultant on the film and appears in a brief post-credits interview. “I wanted people to see that survival is possible, even when everything tells you it isn’t,” she said. The movie ends with statistics on long-term abduction cases and resources for survivors, a choice that has earned praise for its responsibility.

Critics have been impressed: 87% on Rotten Tomatoes, with Variety calling it “a sobering, well-acted reminder of the human cost of predator manipulation.” Viewers have responded emotionally: “Couldn’t stop crying — Heather’s strength is unreal” (@TrueCrimeViewer, 60k likes). Many have praised Lifetime for treating the story with respect rather than sensationalism.

Kidnapped by a Killer: The Heather Robinson Story is more than true crime — it’s a testament to survival, the long shadow of trauma, and the power of finally telling one’s own story. Stream it now on Lifetime and demand justice for survivors everywhere.