The Gabby Petito Story

I think this could have been put together so much better. This was a sad story. I could not stop watching the news I just felt the movie was too rushed.. no chemistry between characters .... Any of them.

The best friend was beyond cheesy. She seemed more into herself than the role. What's up with the eyelashes There was no lead up, I didn't have any connection with anyone Gabby deserved so much better

How do we know what their last words were? I know this isn't 100% accurate. But we don't know what was going on.

Brian and his family are absolutely horrible people Karma has its way of working around.

Looks like there's a split here with reviews for the movie. Some people hate it; some people were satisfied with it, me included.

First off, I understand that value of respect, or disrespect according to others, of the story still being fresh in their eyes. As well as the fact that the actual families of Gabby and Brian did not put any of their time into this adaptation. Or that this was only a cash grab. Frankly, I think those reviewers thought too much into it. It's a movie. An adaptation of the real-life story of Gabby and Brian and truthfully, I think the cast, directors, producers did a fine job. I am quite certain they tried their best to respect the lives affected by this and all they wanted was to project the life Gabby and Brian had together leading up to her murder.

I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. It was interesting to actually see the dramatizations that many of us already had in our minds about Brian, specifically. They brought every snapshot the media reported and the in-between of what may have happened. I watched it until the very end just glued to the TV and it brought back the sorrow and sympathy I felt for Gabby when this was national news a couple years ago.

This was a low-budget film, I mean it was a Lifetime movie, not a Hollywood blockbuster. So I already knew what to expect from this production. So with that said, I took this movie in with curiousity and intrigue and have enjoyed it. Cash grab? No. Too soon? Nah. The parents' disapproval? Sure, that's their choice. But I would not let it prevent you from watching it.

All I can say is that I did enjoy it, I definitely was intrigued by it, and it did help piece together some of the narrative I already had in my thoughts. I'm sure the cast and crew just wanted to bring the story together so we can sympathize it even more. So, because of that at face-value, I give it an 8 out of 10. I'd say watch it. It was entertaining enough.

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.

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.