BTK's daughter criticizes SK

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Kati33

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So, it has been awhile since I read the story (hoping to get a re-read in this week), but does she even realize how it ends? I don't think it glorifies her dad at all. Why didn't/doesn't she get upset about the books and movies that are entirely based on her dad's crimes rather than one that used it as an inspiration?
 

Neesy

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BTK's Daughter Breaks Silence to Criticize Movie - ABC News

Local News | The News Tribune

Did she feel the same way about the story in Full Dark, No Stars? I don't recall any statements back then.
Maybe she doesn't read books?

She says she is a Christian and her faith has helped her through this. As I Christian she should try to be more understanding, I would think (but this is just my personal opinion).

I liked reading the statements made by Mr. King that are given in the article.
Thanks Spideyman
 
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Mar 12, 2010
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I gots to say it isn't a spotlight I'd like to be in... again :( It isn't SK's fault but the news media sure didn't waste any time beating a path to Mrs. Rawson's door after SK's television appearances :( I'm guessing they asked questions and she answered them. The Eagle news article is dated the day after SK's appearances. Her letter isn't only to SK. It's To The Eagle, The Wichita TV Media & Mr. Stephen King.

SK's movies don't show one time and disappear. They're shown on tv multiple times. I hope Rawson's children aren't taunted and bullied by classmates.
 

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I haven't seen if they've actually printed this yet in any of the follow up stories either from the Wichita Eagle or otherwise but this is the response that Stephen sent them:

I don't think Mr. Rader's daughter has to worry about her father getting a big head; there's nothing glamorous about the portrayal of Bob Anderson in A GOOD MARRIAGE. He's depicted as a banal little man, and none of the murders are shown. As for making millions from the project…not going to happen. AGM is a very small, independently financed feature that is opening in less than two dozen venues. How it does as a video on demand feature film (VOD) is hard to predict, but we don't expect huge returns. The story isn't really about the killer husband at all, but about a brave and determined woman. And while I understand Ms. Rawson's distress, the BTK crimes have already been chronicled in no less than 4 feature films, and there may be more in the future. I grant there is a morbid interest in such crimes and such criminals--there have been at least a hundred films about Jack the Ripper, who claimed far fewer victims--but there's also a need to understand why they happen. That drive to understand is the basis of art, and that's what I strove for in A GOOD MARRIAGE. I maintain that the theme of both the novella and the movie--how some men are able to keep secrets from even their closest loved ones--is valid and deserves exploration.
Stephen King
 

Spideyman

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I haven't seen if they've actually printed this yet in any of the follow up stories either from the Wichita Eagle or otherwise but this is the response that Stephen sent them:

I don't think Mr. Rader's daughter has to worry about her father getting a big head; there's nothing glamorous about the portrayal of Bob Anderson in A GOOD MARRIAGE. He's depicted as a banal little man, and none of the murders are shown. As for making millions from the project…not going to happen. AGM is a very small, independently financed feature that is opening in less than two dozen venues. How it does as a video on demand feature film (VOD) is hard to predict, but we don't expect huge returns. The story isn't really about the killer husband at all, but about a brave and determined woman. And while I understand Ms. Rawson's distress, the BTK crimes have already been chronicled in no less than 4 feature films, and there may be more in the future. I grant there is a morbid interest in such crimes and such criminals--there have been at least a hundred films about Jack the Ripper, who claimed far fewer victims--but there's also a need to understand why they happen. That drive to understand is the basis of art, and that's what I strove for in A GOOD MARRIAGE. I maintain that the theme of both the novella and the movie--how some men are able to keep secrets from even their closest loved ones--is valid and deserves exploration.
Stephen King

:clap:
 

Haunted

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I haven't seen if they've actually printed this yet in any of the follow up stories either from the Wichita Eagle or otherwise but this is the response that Stephen sent them:

I don't think Mr. Rader's daughter has to worry about her father getting a big head; there's nothing glamorous about the portrayal of Bob Anderson in A GOOD MARRIAGE. He's depicted as a banal little man, and none of the murders are shown. As for making millions from the project…not going to happen. AGM is a very small, independently financed feature that is opening in less than two dozen venues. How it does as a video on demand feature film (VOD) is hard to predict, but we don't expect huge returns. The story isn't really about the killer husband at all, but about a brave and determined woman. And while I understand Ms. Rawson's distress, the BTK crimes have already been chronicled in no less than 4 feature films, and there may be more in the future. I grant there is a morbid interest in such crimes and such criminals--there have been at least a hundred films about Jack the Ripper, who claimed far fewer victims--but there's also a need to understand why they happen. That drive to understand is the basis of art, and that's what I strove for in A GOOD MARRIAGE. I maintain that the theme of both the novella and the movie--how some men are able to keep secrets from even their closest loved ones--is valid and deserves exploration.
Stephen King


Well said.:clap:
 

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I also thought there was some irony in the fact that the reporter who did the piece for the Wichita Eagle specifically mentioned in his initial email that he, too, had written a book about the BTK murders. Perhaps he did, but there was no mention of which of those suggested causes he donated his royalties to.
 

Dana Jean

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Personally, the fact that so much has been written and said about Rader and she has not broken her silence about it but is compelled to do so when Stephen does something, to me she was wanting to engage him to get her fifteen minutes of fame and 6 degrees of separation from the most talented and popular author ever. It's like a little kid who does bad things to get attention.

My advice to Stephen would be, don't feed the troll.

Hey, he doesn't talk to us and we LOVE the guy. He shouldn't give her one ounce of attention for her see-through attempt at author whoring.
 
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GNTLGNT

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Personally, the fact that so much has been written and said about Rader and she has not broken her silence about it but is compelled to do so when Stephen does something, to me she was wanting to engage him to get her fifteen minutes of fame and 6 degrees of separation from the most talented and popular author ever. It's like a little kid who does bad things to get attention.

My advice to Stephen would be, don't feed the troll. Hey, he doesn't talk to us and we LOVE the guy. He shouldn't give her one ounce of attention for her see-through attempt at author whoring.
..."author whoring"...my new phrase of the day....
book+whore.jpg
...my Unca Steve King...
 

misery chastain loves co.

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If she doesn't want media attention then why isn't she using the phrase "no comment"?
Also, when the movie titled BTK starring Kane Hodder, where they used the actual name Dennis Radar, came out a few years ago where was the hoopla then if it's so stressful for her? Not big enough names involved?
I guess Alfred Hitchcock(if he were still alive) and Tobe Hooper need to pay royalties or appease the families and/or victims of Ed Gein due to Psycho and Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
 

Becks19

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He is not exploiting anyone. A seed of an idea came from BTK, the rest of the story is fiction.

Uh, I think she should be focusing her energy and feelings of being exploited on her butchering father. Step off Kerri.
Absolutely! You took the words right out of my mouth. SK didn't write her story.....her Father did.
 

krwhiting

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If I remember correctly, Mr. King based Carrie on two girls he knew in high school. (Maybe they should break their silence as well.)
I think many writers get their ideas from observing or hearing a truth, and then expounding on it in their stories.

I guess because he's actually said Dennis Rader's name in connection with A Good Marriage, the daughter felt she had to say something.
Exploiting the victims? I don't believe so. It's been a while since I read the story, but I don't think the victims were focused on much at all. Like Mr. King stated in the article, it's about the wife, not the victims. He's not using anyone selfishly or unethically which is basically what exploiting means.

She may be horrified and embarrassed that she didn't realize he father was a monster (as we all would be), so she thinks focusing on that aspect is offensive. To me, it's just a look into how the innocent are affected by the guilty. I do feel very sorry for her to have to live with the knowledge of her father's crimes.

Your last two sentences sum up my feeling about this. I just watched this on netflix today with my kids. The point I got out of it, and made to them, was how such a man didn't care one whit what his actions did to those around him. That his self-regard was so great that he would not only torture a perfect stranger to death, he would also tie that albatross around the necks of his children and wife. That's what I got out of it. I would add, I knew she was going to have to kill him the moment she figured out what he was; this being fiction and all.

Kelly
 

krwhiting

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I also thought there was some irony in the fact that the reporter who did the piece for the Wichita Eagle specifically mentioned in his initial email that he, too, had written a book about the BTK murders. Perhaps he did, but there was no mention of which of those suggested causes he donated his royalties to.

I always oppose trying to strong-arm someone into paying their money to some pet cause or other thing just because we "think" he should. His money, his business. King can do whatever he'd like with it and it makes no difference to me. Same for anyone else.

Kelly
 

Brian's Twinner

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I have yet to read the story, but I caught the flick on Netflix this morning. Chilling performance by Mr. LaPaglia. Ditto for Ms. Allen. I only wished she had taken the evidence (the dead woman's driver license) to the police and let them deal with Beaddie. Yes, the truth would have hurt the family...but their ignorance of his misdeeds would eventually earn them exoneration in the jury of public opinion. Plus she wouldn't have been forced to soil her hands by offing him.
 

kingricefan

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I have yet to read the story, but I caught the flick on Netflix this morning. Chilling performance by Mr. LaPaglia. Ditto for Ms. Allen. I only wished she had taken the evidence (the dead woman's driver license) to the police and let them deal with Beaddie. Yes, the truth would have hurt the family...but their ignorance of his misdeeds would eventually earn them exoneration in the jury of public opinion. Plus she wouldn't have been forced to soil her hands by offing him.
The remaining family members would have been forever tarnished by that man's deeds. She would have forever been the subject of speculation (did she really know? how could she NOT know?) and the children would have had to endure a lifetime of shame, a lifetime of pain for all of them. I would have done exactly what she did.