The Stalking of Laurie Show

The Stalking of Laurie Show (also known by the title Rivals outside of the United States) is a 2000 made-for-TV movie that was directed by Norma Bailey. The movie is based on the true-life murder of Lancaster native Laurie Show.[1]

Laurie Show was a naive and trusting sixteen year old girl (Jennifer Finnigan), that became entangled in the lives of Lisa Michelle Lambert (Marne Patterson) and her boyfriend Lawrence Yunkin. Laurie was initially befriended by Michelle, who later turned on her after Laurie was raped by Lawrence. Believing that Laurie was lying about the rape and that she had pursued Lawrence, Michelle began harassing and stalking Laurie, often with the assistance of friends. This harassment culminated in Michelle murdering Laurie in her home with the help of her friend Tabitha Buck. Laurie's mother discovered the body and Michelle, Lawrence, and Tabitha were quickly arrested. Lawrence pleaded guilty and testified against the other two girls in exchange for a reduced sentence, with Michelle and Tabitha receiving life sentences without parole.

Critical reception for the film was predominantly negative, with both Variety and People panning the film.[2][3] The Sun-Sentinel criticized the film as "pointlessly violent" and stated that "[t]he only people who should be more ashamed of it than USA and Raphael -- who obviously won't be -- are those who encourage more such trash by watching".[4]

The Stalking of Laurie Show was also criticized for "[distorting] the truth", with an article in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal stating that Lambert was not the "90210-style prom queen" nor Show the outcast that they were portrayed as in the film. The reporter went on to argue that the changes to the film, along with the sexual content "designed only to titillate", was largely unnecessary and detracted from the crime itself.[5]