Captive Audience

In 1972, seven-year-old Steven Stayner was kidnapped and raised by his abductor under an assumed name. At age 14 he made his escape and returned home. Reporters couldn’t get enough of the miraculous story, and a TV miniseries captivated the nation. But there was no storybook ending for the Stayners. The following years brought conflict, tragedy, and an unthinkable crime. The Hulu documentary “Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story” follows the ordeals of Steven and Cory Stayner. It supplements its historical footage with clips from the 1989 TV miniseries and with research interviews from its screenwriter. It shows how a story can be manipulated and how the media can treat you like heroes one day - and villains the next.