The series was interesting in that we got to hear from multiple people connected to the case. However, it was bizarre that the director had actors who portrayed the brothers in the 1989 made-for-TV miniseries read transcripts from recorded interviews with the brothers. It would've been better to play the original recordings with captions. It was also odd that they left out many details about Cary and the murder of his uncle. Equally puzzling is why, other than old news stories, we didn't get to hear from anyone connected to the Yosemite victims.
28 Reviews
Amazing story, but ...
sansavera22 April 2022
I remember this story and miniseries from back when. This had such promise as a revisit .. but having the actors read the interviews was borderline unbearable to watch. The story is so powerful in itself,and this show is done quite well... but the reading like an audition was somewhat embarrassing to see.
See this as a psychological study and not true crime
camerong-733578 May 2022
I think many of the low reviews for this are coming from people who expected something different than what this is trying to do. I think this series is trying to piece together how Steven Stayner's kidnapping and return along with the media attention had a psychological effect on Cary Stayner and possibly led him to become a murderer.
I think the psychological aspects of this incident and how the family was impacted are where the director wants the viewer's attention. We see this in how Kay Stayner describes her husband's opposition to therapy for Steven. The 1989 made for TV movie mentioned in this also alludes to the extra attention given Steven and seemingly taken form Cary. I also think that having the actors from that movie reading the scripted lines was an artistic move. Many are saying it is pretentious but the actual people aren't available to speak for themselves.
I think the psychological aspects of this incident and how the family was impacted are where the director wants the viewer's attention. We see this in how Kay Stayner describes her husband's opposition to therapy for Steven. The 1989 made for TV movie mentioned in this also alludes to the extra attention given Steven and seemingly taken form Cary. I also think that having the actors from that movie reading the scripted lines was an artistic move. Many are saying it is pretentious but the actual people aren't available to speak for themselves.
Interesting ........... especially connecting the 2 brothers
thejdrage2 May 2022
I remember both news stories, but did not put them together - because ... I just didn't.
All families have tragedies, but this family has incredible ones.
There are lots of complaints about how it was done and what what was left out. There's always someone complaining!!
I thought it was overwhelming enough as it is!
It's heavy and unreal. To think that a family could endure what it has is incredible. I am exhausted.
All families have tragedies, but this family has incredible ones.
There are lots of complaints about how it was done and what what was left out. There's always someone complaining!!
I thought it was overwhelming enough as it is!
It's heavy and unreal. To think that a family could endure what it has is incredible. I am exhausted.
Because it was a deconstruction of true crime.
clf-7399830 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The content for this series was something I had been obsessed with as a child in 1989 when the original mini series was released.
This was a very interesting deconstruction of a true crime obsession that held attention of an entire nation due to the pursuit of the story. The filmmakers enmesh real footage with interviews from the family as well as those who participated in the manipulation of their story like the writers and actors of the fictional mini series.
This was a new way of telling an old story. The irony of asking the family to retell it all over again wasn't lost on me or the filmmakers so it seems.
This was a very interesting deconstruction of a true crime obsession that held attention of an entire nation due to the pursuit of the story. The filmmakers enmesh real footage with interviews from the family as well as those who participated in the manipulation of their story like the writers and actors of the fictional mini series.
This was a new way of telling an old story. The irony of asking the family to retell it all over again wasn't lost on me or the filmmakers so it seems.
Heart breaking
destiny_west12 January 2023
Captive Audience is the story of Steven Stayner who was abducted at a young age only to return to his family years later. This story was made into a two part series titled "I know my first name is Steven' though it was loosely added to.
This documentary goes over the tragedies that continue to fall the Stayner family even upon Steven's return, that included his older brother turning out to be a serial killer.
This documentary is heart breaking and captivating.
To learn what this kid went through and his own heroic act to save another child, is mind blowing.
To see how the media dogged him and his family upon his return and into the future is heart breaking.
This documentary is well worth a watch.
This documentary goes over the tragedies that continue to fall the Stayner family even upon Steven's return, that included his older brother turning out to be a serial killer.
This documentary is heart breaking and captivating.
To learn what this kid went through and his own heroic act to save another child, is mind blowing.
To see how the media dogged him and his family upon his return and into the future is heart breaking.
This documentary is well worth a watch.
So much tragedy.
cscott233121 April 2022
Sadly, if it can happen, it does happen...but so much to one family is heartbreaking. I certainly don't pretend to know the whole truth. I was very young when the initial crime happened. Remember watching "I Know my First Name is Steven" when I was older. By the time the second crime happened I was into my 20's and don't recall it at all! What I hope is that this documentary told what the family wanted told and in the right way. I know they can get in an editing room and really twist some stuff. The tragedies are immense, from abduction, to rape, to murder and MANY in between, right down to the ABSOLUTELY pathetic sentencing of a child rapist.
Tragic family
ecmarmon10 November 2022
I've ripped on Hulu before, this one they got right.
Great storytelling of a tragic family. Producers did an excellent job of focusing on the important pieces. This is a family that goes from one traumatizing blow to the next. My deepest sympathy. I particularly liked having actors who portrayed the subjects in film reading the lines. Very well done it.
One avanue I didn't see explored was the tragic end to Steve. Any connection? They never really go into detail about how Steve died? Is it related to Cory? Was it random? I would genuinely like to know.
One critique... The modern day Geppetto calling himself a "mitigation expert" added very little.
Great storytelling of a tragic family. Producers did an excellent job of focusing on the important pieces. This is a family that goes from one traumatizing blow to the next. My deepest sympathy. I particularly liked having actors who portrayed the subjects in film reading the lines. Very well done it.
One avanue I didn't see explored was the tragic end to Steve. Any connection? They never really go into detail about how Steve died? Is it related to Cory? Was it random? I would genuinely like to know.
One critique... The modern day Geppetto calling himself a "mitigation expert" added very little.
Why HULU Why?!?!
stefaniemccool22 April 2022
Why did you do the documentary like this, have you not watched any true crime Docs before, "inviting the actors" to read the interviews and flashing from family and friends back to the actors was completely unnecessary. Just tell the story and let the interviewees speak their thoughts and stories. NOTHING else is needed!!
Real People
pbwpqfsz1 July 2022
This wasn't the best true crime documentary but it gave us a look at a real family that survived hellish circumstances only to be hit one more time with a media avalanche and another tragedy. I saw the made for TV movie and I finally heard from the family that they weren't portrayed in the most accurate light but they were happy their story was told. Most people know who Steven is and what Cary did but I don't think anyone can really know what the impact of those events had on the members of the family. I see what the director asked the actors who portrayed Steven and Cary to step in and read excerpts from the interviews. It's a little off-putting at first but with the absence of those key people it keeps the viewer involved in the story instead of cutting to a still picture of the individual. I feel this could have been more involved but I asked away with a deep respect for Mrs. Staynor and her strength.
This Is Not A True Crime Doc
RedWineSkeletor24 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
If you're expecting a normal true crime documentary, you're going to be disappointed. This is wholly different. It's less about the crimes (because yes there are multiple crimes) and more about the lives of the people impacted. There are interviews and discussions with media personnel, like a news reporter who interviewed Cary and the actors who portrayed both Steven and Cary in the miniseries from '89. The information about the crimes really seems superfluous, like it's just there to give context for the interviews with Steven's now adult children. You get to learn how these normal people survived tragedy and moved on with their lives and how it impacted them for years and years, as well as how it impacted people who really only had a cursory involvement with the family. I wouldn't call this a true crime documentary. This is something else.
Very good
facebookuser197928 April 2022
Lots of old footage and interviews. Very interesting. Yes actors read for Steven and Cary. But for reasons they can't read themselves ! I remember the story in 1980, back then there were few publicized kidnappings. When Steven returned it was a miracle but life wasn't so easy for him afterwards.
Pretentious Filmmaker Ruins Important Story of Hero/Survivor Steven Stayner
mikelc202023 April 2022
Such an important story of a young boy who was abducted and brutally victimized for 7 years then becomes a hero saving another child and yet the pretentious director, who directed an episode of Unsolved Mysteries, spent way too much time having actors from a 1989 TV movie based on the events read from actual interviews of family members. This totally took away from the story and was obviously added as filler to make Captive Audience into a miniseries. Here's what the miniseries completely overlooks by a long shot and fails to present: Steven Stayner was a victim turned hero and should be remembered and always honored for that.
Media is part of the story
astonmatters27 July 2022
Warning: Spoilers
All the people complaining about the inclusion of the TV movie material and its actors are missing an essential point: Media are a big factor in both Steven's and Cary's stories. Take for example that before Cary confessed, he wanted to make sure that a TV movie was made about him too. I think it was rather clever how media's role was interwoven with the rest of the story. Unfortunately, many people don't seem to get it, judging from the reviews.
Wonderful
mbre7823 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I loved this story and the way it was told. It is not often in true crime that we get to see the family and friends and how their lives have been impacted by the crime. Seeing the daughter speak about Steven as well as how the movie impacted her childhood was incredibly insightful. When she spoke of how she associated her father with Corin Nemec, seeing him reading Steven's own words became so much more powerful. Definitely worth a watch in my opinion, especially if you have never heard this story before.
Well done Hulu
mrocco-117 March 2024
I know the case. It is so tragic and it feels weird to give a rating. But for years I tried to find more recent interviews with Kay and other family members so this series provided some kind of closure for me. Kay seems like an incredibly strong woman and I can't imagine the tragedy of her 'true' life. When she said true stories rarely have happy endings my heart broke. My review is simply to say that I was happy to see the family and to know that they did survive.
As far as all the negative reviews about the having scenes from the old tv movie and the actors reading old interviews, so for me it made perfect sense. Steven's 2 children are quoted as saying they thought the move WAS their dad and that is where they got all their impressions and information because nobody talked to them about their actual dad. I thought weaving the fictional movie into this documentary was pitch perfect, because that is the actual reality. They did a great job on reminding us what was real and what was fictionalized for those of us that watched the movie when it came out and thought the movie was the true story. I wish the best that life can offer to Steven's family, they have been through so much. Kay is an inspiration on what it means to persevere.
As far as all the negative reviews about the having scenes from the old tv movie and the actors reading old interviews, so for me it made perfect sense. Steven's 2 children are quoted as saying they thought the move WAS their dad and that is where they got all their impressions and information because nobody talked to them about their actual dad. I thought weaving the fictional movie into this documentary was pitch perfect, because that is the actual reality. They did a great job on reminding us what was real and what was fictionalized for those of us that watched the movie when it came out and thought the movie was the true story. I wish the best that life can offer to Steven's family, they have been through so much. Kay is an inspiration on what it means to persevere.
Why? Just, why!?
trashcanracer25 April 2022
There's zero new information. There's zero insight. There's zero reason to re-tell either story. And having the actors read from Steven and Cary's interviews?? Why?? This was just a horrible attempt by Hulu to be edgy. The ONLY redeeming part was seeing, and hearing from Steven's wife, daughter and son... but even they didn't shed any new light on their Dad's story, which they admit they can barely remember... and definitely didn't shed any light on Cary, who they didn't know at all.
What was director thinking?
mikehannus-275-6878101 June 2022
Instead of a straight up true crime documentary, which this story warrants, the director decided to make a mashup of news footage form 1972, interviews from 2022 and for reasons that are beyond me, extensive footage of the late 1980s made for TV mini-series. I cannot for the life of me figure how they thought the addition of the mini-series footage or act outs from the aged actors added anything to this narrative. I struggled through the first episode baffling at this choice. This is a poorly directed doc.
Stopped after 27 minutes
zingela-4317125 April 2022
The fact that they have actors from the movie, reading their old lines, is unnecessary and frankly? It's gross.
I won't watch the rest. It's a strange way to tell the stories of these people. If you're going to make more, please rethink this method.
I won't watch the rest. It's a strange way to tell the stories of these people. If you're going to make more, please rethink this method.
Who conducted your research.
jeffreyrinek22 April 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I have been receiving communications since "Captive Audience" aired. The general subject is the factual inaccuracy. A simple example is the total exclusion of the FBI including the 6 hour interview which solved the Yosemite deaths. Cary Stayner himself credited an FBI Agent with obtaining the confession and solving the case. When you are factually inaccurate telling a story you harm the individuals again. Hopefully this will cause your future stories to be more thoroughly researched.
Great story, poorly executed!
everyhoureveryday15 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This could have been an incredible dive into the story of both Steven and Cary Stayner told through the voices of those around them, both friends/family and media. In lieu of researching and discussing their lives before, during. And after their tragedies they interspersed the fictional movie based on Stevens kidnapping through out. They even got the two actors (from the movie) to read interviews of the brothers, when it would have been more moving to have played the actual tapes of the transcripts they were reading, regardless of the quality. There is no dive into what made Cary tick and it is a story. The family members who spoke were basically used to pump this doc up when if they would have been asked the right questions it would have been really amazing. They also left so much out of what happened in both cases and omitted people and facts that should have been discussed.
In the end this is like watching a movie based on a wikipedia entry from someone who heard about it from a friend.
In the end this is like watching a movie based on a wikipedia entry from someone who heard about it from a friend.
The first episode was excellent, but they were unable to maintain that high level
asc8527 May 2022
I knew very little about the Steven Stayner case, so I thought they did a great job in Episode #1. It was extremely intense and interesting to watch, and I looked forward to the next 2 episodes. Episode #2 was basically the aftermath of Steven coming home, and tied up a few other loose ends. It was decent enough. Episode #3 was about his brother Cary. This should have been a very interesting episode. Instead it was a bore. I almost nodded off during it.
Hulu scraping the bottom of the barrel again
eric4entropy4 May 2022
A cheap poorly made documentary about how cheap and poorly made documentaries from the 80's. 1/3 of the "documentary" is clips of I Know My Name is Steven, 1/3 is having the lead actors from the TV movie read transcripts and a 1/3 bland exploitive interviews with the family.
Ugh, A poorly executed documess
mattsnyder19703 May 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Had this primarily been about the trauma Carey must've experienced in regards to feeling neglected by his parents in constant turmoil about his missing brother, and what then lead to the 10 years after Stevens death to become a serial killer. Had they focused on Carey, even with a prison interview. This would've been more compelling. Steven's daughter mentioned her stepfather not much caring for the Stayner family, I would've loved to have known why ? Not to mention the actors from far better 1989 (partially fabricated) miniseries reading from the script and or the writer of the tv miniseries discussing his process were both cringe worthy and unnecessary.
Horribly Realized Documentary
kvxthzsbd13 August 2022
Warning: Spoilers
How could someone make the Steven Stayner story boring? If you really want to know, watch this docuseries. It is horribly directed and produced. It adds nothing to the story and doesn't even offer any historical context. The media feeding frenzy and the lack of understanding of child sexual predators and how everything that happened after Steven went home re-victimized both Steven and his whole family (who still, apparently, have little insight into their own plight) might've been an interesting take on this terribly tragic story.
However, in the hands of this director and producers (why Russo Brothers, why?), even the straightforward re-telling of the Steven/Cary Stayner story is dull and pointless.
The excessive use of clips from the 1989 Movie of the Week is dumb. So is the use of the 50-something actors from that MOW reading lines from taped interviews with Steven Stayner and his brother, Cary, from back in the day. In many cases they read lines that we already hear on tape. And then they make insipid comments about the "dialogue." The audio clips of the writer of the 1989 MOW, who conducted interviews with the real Steven and real Cory are also flat and lacking insight.
And the cherry on top is the way the docuseries director inserts herself into the film in a way that adds nothing and detracts from pacing and impact.
This is one of the worst true crime docuseries I've ever seen.
However, in the hands of this director and producers (why Russo Brothers, why?), even the straightforward re-telling of the Steven/Cary Stayner story is dull and pointless.
The excessive use of clips from the 1989 Movie of the Week is dumb. So is the use of the 50-something actors from that MOW reading lines from taped interviews with Steven Stayner and his brother, Cary, from back in the day. In many cases they read lines that we already hear on tape. And then they make insipid comments about the "dialogue." The audio clips of the writer of the 1989 MOW, who conducted interviews with the real Steven and real Cory are also flat and lacking insight.
And the cherry on top is the way the docuseries director inserts herself into the film in a way that adds nothing and detracts from pacing and impact.
This is one of the worst true crime docuseries I've ever seen.
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