Captive Audience

Published: May 5, 2022, 8 a.m.

b'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\\u2019t 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.\\n\\nThe Hulu documentary \\u201cCaptive Audience: A Real American Horror Story\\u201d 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.'