The Hunt for the BTK Killer (TV 2005)

After 31 years at-large, detectives in Wichita, Kansas hone in on the serial killer known as BTK.

Director:

Stephen Kay

Writers:

Tom Towler (teleplay), Donald Martin (teleplay),

Stars:

Robert Forster, Michael Michele, Maury Chaykin

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Robert Forster	...	Detective Jason Magida
Michael Michele	...	Detective Baines
Maury Chaykin	...	Robert Beattie
Mimi Kuzyk	...	Mrs. Magida
Gregg Henry	...	Dennis Rader
Donna Goodhand
Michael Filipowich
Daniel Kash
Johnie Chase	...	Chief Packer
John Dunsworth	...	Pastor
Martha Irving	...	Mary Baxter
Janaya Stephens	...	Mom with Baby
Nigel Bennett	...	Detective Zilinski
Hollis McLaren	...	Helen
Nancy Regan	...	TV Anchor Madge

Storyline

After 31 years at-large, detectives in Wichita, Kansas hone in on the serial killer known as BTK.

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Plot Keywords:

detective | wichita kansas | serial killer | torture | serial killer biopic | 

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Taglines:

Bind, torture, kill...

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | Thriller

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Certificate:

R

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 October 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

BTK - Vadászat a sorozatgyilkosra

Filming Locations:

Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

Company Credits

Production Co:

Diana Kerew Productions, Sony Pictures Television, Von Zerneck Sertner Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The teakettle continues to whistle after the whistling stopper is removed.

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Connections

Version of B.T.K. Killer (2005)

User Reviews

Informative and Compelling True to Life TV Movie

Dennis Rader went decades living as the BTK Killer (stands for Hunt, Torture, Kill), with his final amount murder list will probably never be known for sure. "The Hunt for the BTK Killer" follows Rader, played by Gregg Henry, and Detective Magida, Robert Forster, the man responsible for taking him down.

This is a very good true to life television film. The story is for the most part correct, and while I don't know if there was a Det. Magida (or if that was the Detective's name) the police investigation kept me interested as to exactly how BTK was caught. Rader's kills are presented in a creepy and fascinating way. Overall the script is tight and consistently keeps your attention.

Henry and Forster are really the only characters that are given much depth, but those two are the only ones that need it. The script typecasts Forster's Magida as your usual cop, he's an older gumshoe working with a beautiful younger actress as partner. Henry does a fantastic job as Rader, his interviews at the end are creepy and award-worthy.

There is a voice-over narration by Forster that guides the film, which I suspect was brought in afterwards to tie up loose ends. In any other case, I would drop the quality down for using the worst tool in the business, but here it actually enlightened about Rader instead of insulting the viewer's intelligence.

If you're interested in BTK, or serial killer media in general, this one is worth a watch.