Screen Rant has an exclusive clip from the upcoming docuseries Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story, which premieres April 21 on Hulu and consists of three 45-minute episodes. Directed by Jessica Dimmock, who previously helmed Netflix's critically acclaimed 2018 docuseries Flint Town, the new true crime series tackles a heinous kidnapping that took place in the 1970s and the haunting aftermath that played out in front of viewers all over the country.
Captive Audience isn't just about the tragic story of Steven Stayner, but also about the way his story got told — and the way modern media routinely warps what should be personal into a product for public consumption. What starts as a desperate mother's plea for help finding her son soon turns into a traumatized teen having to deal with the pressures of a life under the microscope, which he never asked for. The Hulu documentary, for which Joe and Anthony Russo (Avengers: Endgame), explores how the unwanted spotlight affected not only Steven and his parents, but his brother Cary as well.
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For those unfamiliar with the history, the darkness surrounding the Stayners didn't end with Steven's terrible kidnapping. Not only did the secrets that were uncovered during his abuser's trial take a toll on him, but his life was tragically cut short by a hit-and-run accident. Years later, the family was once again in turmoil when Cary was found guilty of murdering four women. It goes without saying that many relatives were thrust into the limelight over the course of these events, having to find private ways to cope with the public audience they were forced to endure.
In Screen Rant's exclusiveclip, which you can view above,
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