The Gabby Petito Story

I think this movie is decent for Lifetime standards. I don't get however that they cast Gabby's "mom" as an actor that is 12 years apart from the actress that plays Gabby. It's very obvious she doesn't look like she would be her mom IRL. So idk casting could have been better!! I know sometimes this happens but it just seems kind of dumb and I am an actor and producer so I don't see how they cast it like this because it's not believeable. The acting was ok and I honestly haven't heard of this story until now but I like to watch these type of movies if they are done at least somewhat believable.

I found this movie very 1 sided. I'm not saying Brian wasn't very jealous, controlling and in need of therapy. But this movie shows basically none of Gabbies issues, anxiety, ocd, despression. Things we know she had because there's footage of her saying it. She had a dependence of him. She said she didn't feel comfortable away from him. So portraying her as a confident free spirit that he was constantly trying to corral isn't realistic. Her videos very much showed a timid, meek but adventurous girl. Brian obviously manipulated Gabbie, put her excitement of becoming an Influencer down because he wanted her to always need him but I don't believe he was a psychopath like Jeffrey Dahmer. I hate when movies that are about a real life event are so one sided in telling the story. All they had to do was portray her as she really was and with all the footage of her that should of been easy. No one knows what caused Brian to strangle Gabbie to death. But it's not so hard to hypothesize that they were arguing something they were known to do and he got so angry he stangled her. The real lesson in all of this the lesson I'd want to the world to learn if I was Gabbie. Is not to ignore all the red flags. Listen to your gut. You might love a person but together you're toxic for each other. Sometimes when you've become dependent on someone for comfort or for whatever reason it's hard to break yourself away. I'd like to think Gabbies story with no help from this movie has helped many get out of a situation that may have ended the same way hers did. I know her parents hated the idea of this movie and asked it not be made to begin with. Which is very understandable. Hopefully they can take comfort in knowing her actual story saved many.

This is a film depicting domestic violence, circumstances matter. The actress portraying Gabby is someone who appears to be in her early thirties when Gabby AND her friend were in their twenties. A for effort, but for victims who have been there and done that, it does NOT portray an unknowing victim.

The events appear accurate, and also introduces an element of mental health problems as to Brian which was not made main stream to the public, which could shift the court of public opinion.

I don't know. I have mixed thoughts. New elements, and improper casting leaves me feeling unsettled about public perception.

Why this movie needs to be made in break-neck speed without the approval of the victim's family is beyond me. At some point, some form of dramatization is understandable as Gabby's story somehow has captured the world and there are very important lessons to be learned. But spitting out this movie in a mere 8 months after Brian's notebook discovery is in extremely poor taste. Have some respect and give the family time to heal and ensure that they are involved in any future movie decisions. And it goes without saying that allowing sufficient time to lapse before releasing such a production could only help with the quality and accuracy of it. Instead, we get this cheesy Lifetime rendition which is basically a mimicry of millions-viewed police bodycam videos and Instagram photos, while it fills in the gaps with mere speculation of what could have happened. It is also annoying how genders and races of cops and lawyers are changed for no good reason. And the victim Gabby's portrayal is cringe throughout, while I hate to admit that the actor portraying the perpetrator Brian seems spot-on in his performance. Three stars for that effort - he has the same look, same voice, same awkward body language, and convincing unpredictable rage.

The good - Brian Laundry - what an actor - absolutely spot on. He's every bit the awkward jealous, insecure Brian Laundry we've seen on footage. The scene where he kicks off in the cafeteria is probably one of the best scenes in the film.

The bad - Gabby Petito - the over acting, cringe voice she puts on in an attempt to sound like Gabby footage is dreadful. Because she's way older too than Gabby was it comes across immature.

The ugly - sad to learn that the Petito family wasn't approached and that nothing was donated to their foundation.

Thora Birch trying to keep her hand in acting by directing/producing this probably wasn't the wisest of choices in what appears to be a money grab and wasted opportunity to get the real story across about who Gabby Petito was and why her tragic death and story is so important. Birch and her acting is absolutely dreadful. Constantly clearing her throat is annoying and the scene at the end where she takes the phone call about Gabby is some of the worst acting I've ever seen. A lot of the facts too seem to have either been forgotten or changed. We know Brian told his parents Gabby was missing before he got back to Florida in her van so why then is he seen rehearsing telling his folks? We also know how she died and how she was discovered. Why then is he seen digging a hole to bury her? Very strange. As a stand alone domestic violence film without using the Petito name it would have been better. Especially for the family.