From Amy Fisher to Gabby Petito: 13 movies based on Long Island true crime stories
Yes, that's really Drew Barrymore as Amy Fisher in 1993's "The Amy Fisher Story." Credit: ABC / Everett Collection
On Monday, Netflix drops "Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer" — a three-parter on the Gilgo Beach murders. And while this is a documentary, there's a long Hollywood history of movies based on LI true crimes, like these 13.
THE HONEYMOON KILLERS (1970)
THE CRIME From 1947 to '49, Raymond Fernandez and Martha Beck, convicted of one murder and known to have murdered two more people, were suspected of killing up to 18 women at their Valley Stream apartment.
THE MOVIE Starring Tony Lo Bianco (later in "The French Connection") and Shirley Stoler, this deeply strange and disturbing film can still be streamed on Max.
THE VERDICT A cult following — but certainly not for "Lonely Hearts," the 2006 adaptation, which bombed big.
THE AMITYVILLE HORROR (1979)
The movie that started it all: James Brolin and Margot Kidder in 1979's "The Amityville Horror." Credit: Ronald Grant Archive/Everett Collection/Mary Evans
THE CRIME Ronald DeFeo Jr. kills parents, siblings on Nov. 13, 1974, in their home at 112 Ocean Ave. in Amityville.
THE MOVIE Needs no introduction but just in case — George and Kathy Lutz (James Brolin, Margot Kidder) quickly regret buying that house!
THE VERDICT Critics were snooty, but ignored because this remains one of the most improbable success stories in cinema history.
THE TWO MRS. GRENVILLES (1987)
Ann-Margret, left, and Claudette Colbert starred in 1987's hit TV movie "The Two Mrs. Grenvilles." Credit: Lorimar Film Entertainment/Everett Collection
THE CRIME On Oct. 30, 1955, Oyster Bay socialite Ann Woodward guns down husband William Woodward Jr.
THE TV MOVIE This NBC two-nighter, based on the Dominick Dunne novel, focused on Ann — here named Ann Grenville (Ann-Margret) — and mother-in-law Alice (Claudette Colbert).
THE VERDICT Critics/viewers were wowed by the presence of screen great Colbert, in her first starring role in 26 years (also her last).
A DEADLY SILENCE (1989)
THE CRIME In 1986, 17-year-old Newfield High (Selden) cheerleader Cheryl Pierson pays $400 to a classmate to kill her father who had been sexually abusing her.
THE TV MOVIE ABC adaptation of book on the case may be best remembered as David Schwimmer's first credited role. (He played a pal of the accused.)
THE VERDICT Bad reviews, but decent ratings: It beat the opening night of NBC's mini "Around the World in 80 Days."
AMY FISHER/JOEY BUTTAFUOCO (1992-93)
Alyssa Milano as Amy Fisher and Jack Scalia as Joey Buttafuoco in "Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story." Credit: Columbia Tristar/Domestic Television/Everett Collection
THE CRIME On May 19, 1992, 17-year-old Amy Fisher shoots Mary Jo Buttafuoco, later serves 7 years; Mary Jo's spouse Joey (Amy's older lover) got 6 months for statutory rape//, serving 4 months before his release.
THE TV MOVIES "Amy Fisher: My Story" (1992, NBC); "The Amy Fisher Story" with Drew Barrymore (1993, ABC); and "Casualties of Love: The Long Island Lolita Story" (1993, CBS), with Alyssa Milano as Amy and Brentwood-raised Jack Scalia as Joey.
THE VERDICT Critics tripped over themselves in the race to condemn all three, but ratings were distressingly huge (ABC alone: 18.2 million).
THE LONG ISLAND INCIDENT (1998)
From tragedy to triumph: Mackenzie Astin as Kevin McCarthy and Laurie Metcalf as his mother Carolyn in 1998's "The Long Island Incident." Credit: Barwood Films/Everett Collection
THE CRIME On Dec. 7, 1993, Colin Ferguson opens fire inside a Long Island Rail Road train as it approaches the Merillon Avenue station in Garden City, killing 6, wounding 19.
THE TV MOVIE Mineola-raised Carolyn McCarthy (Laurie Metcalf) — whose husband, Dennis (Peter MacNeill), was killed, and son, Kevin (Mackenzie Astin), wounded — runs for Congress on a gun-control platform.
THE VERDICT The National Rifle Association's Charlton Heston criticized the NBC movie as "a fraud" beforehand but viewers tuned out anyway (ranked 39th for the week). Bewildering title did not help.
RICKY 6 (2000)
THE CRIME Under the influence of drugs, teen Richard Allan Kasso Jr. kills a friend in Northport on June 19, 1984.
THE MOVIE Vincent Kartheiser ("Mad Men") starred as the Kasso character, here named Ricky Cowen.
THE VERDICT Never released — and who knows why, although you can watch on YouTube should you choose to draw your own conclusions.
MURDER IN THE HAMPTONS (2005)
THE CRIME In October 2001, 52-year-old financier Ted Ammon was found dead at his East Hampton home; his wife Generosa's lover was later convicted of the murder in 2004.
THE TV MOVIE With David Sutcliffe as Ammon and Poppy Montgomery ("Without a Trace") as Generosa.
THE VERDICT Solid winner for Lifetime (around 5 million viewers).
LOST GIRLS (2020)/THE LONG ISLAND SERIAL KILLER (2021)
Gilgo drama: Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert and Thomasin McKenzie as Sherre Gilbert in Netflix's "Lost Girls." Credit: Netflix/Michele Short
THE CRIME Mari Gilbert looks for her missing daughter, Shannan, whose May 1, 2010, disappearance leads to the discovery of multiple serial murder victims at nearby Gilgo Beach.
THE TV MOVIE Netflix movie with Amy Ryan as Mari Gilbert. In Lifetime's movie a year later, Kim Delaney played her.
THE VERDICT Netflix (and Ryan) get mostly solid praise. ("Haunted and doggedly original drama" said Variety.)
THE GABBY PETITO STORY (2022)
Skyler Samuels as Gabby Petito and Evan Hall as Brian Laundrie in a scene from "The Gabby Pepito Story." Credit: Lifetime Television/Everett Collection
THE CRIME In August 2021, 22-year-old Blue Point native Gabby Petito is killed by her fiance, Brian Laundrie.
THE MOVIE Not-terrible Lifetime by-the-numbers biopic, with Skyler Samuels as Gabby.
THE VERDICT Director Thora Birch had to deflect criticism this was made too soon after the murder, or without the Petito family's consent; tepid ratings anyway.
More Entertainment
Most Popular
Top Stories
