Netflix subscribers worldwide are engrossed in the true crime documentary My Father, the BTK Killer, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The programme centres on Kerri Rawson, the daughter of notorious murderer Dennis Rader, also known as the BTK Killer.
In the documentary, Rawson assists the police with unresolved cases they suspect may have been committed by her father, while also confronting her own trauma as the offspring of a serial killer.
Rawson decided to speak out about her father after hearing renowned author Stephen King discuss his novella A Good Marriage, which he admitted was inspired by Rader’s crimes.
Until then, she had remained silent, along with the rest of her family, following Rader’s arrest in 2005.
They all declined the onslaught of interview and media requests that followed Rader’s apprehension.
In the Netflix show, Rawson reveals her devastation and anger towards The Shining author for the story and the additional distress it caused her family.
She later penned her 2019 New York Times bestselling book A Serial Killer’s Daughter: My Story of Faith, Love, and Overcoming, offering her unique perspective on the traumatic case.
How is the BTK Killer connected to A Good Marriage by Stephen King?
A Good Marriage was released in 2010 as part of the story collection Full Dark, No Stars, and was subsequently adapted into a film in 2014 featuring Joan Allen, Anthony LaPaglia, Kristen Connolly and Stephen Lang.
According to King’s website, he drew inspiration from an article about Rader, who slaughtered 10 individuals, including two children, across a span of roughly 16 years.
Rader additionally mocked police by submitting evidence relating to his crimes, with authorities taking three decades to eventually capture the killer.
During this time, Rader was living a seemingly normal existence as a husband and a father of two children.
Rader concealed his genuine character from his spouse, relatives, congregation and neighbourhood.
King explained: “[I] wrote this story to explore what might happen in such a case if the wife suddenly found out about her husband’s awful hobby.”
King further revealed he penned the narrative to examine the notion that it’s “impossible to full know anyone”, including those we cherish most on earth.
The movie version of A Good Marriage portrays devoted spouse Darcy Anderson (Allen) uncovering her accountant husband Bob’s (LaPaglia) sinister secret after accidentally discovering his collection of disturbing mementoes from his victims.
Darcy swiftly realises who her husband is: the infamous serial murderer known as ‘Beadie’.
She subsequently finds herself in mortal danger when Bob learns she’s aware of the truth, triggering a deadly game of cat and mouse between the pair.
My Father, the BTK Killer is streaming on Netflix now
A Good Marriage is streaming on Prime Video now