Shubhabrata Dutta
Directed by Haylie Duff, ‘Her Only Way Out’ is a Lifetime thriller drama movie centering on a woman named Kelly McKenzie, who is stuck in an abusive relationship with her wealthy, controlling fiancé, Derrick. With the guy’s family bent on protecting their man from any consequence, Kelly fakes her death and disappears. She starts a new life somewhere else, seemingly ridding herself of Derrick’s sadistic obsession. The plan works for a while, but when Kelly learns that Derrick has targeted her sister, Dani, she is forced to come out of hiding to confront him. This time, she must expose the truth about Derrick and his family before he does something horrific.
Where Was Her Only Way Out Filmed?
‘Her Only Way Out’ was shot in Kentucky, particularly in Jefferson County and Pulaski County, with principal photography taking place throughout December 2025. The cast and crew had a great time filming the movie, forging strong bonds that also reflect in the onscreen dynamics. Atwell took to Instagram to express her gratitude to the entire team. “Endlessly grateful to our incredible cast and crew for bringing so much heart and talent to this one,” she wrote.
Jefferson County, Kentucky
Kentucky is a growing filming location for Lifetime projects, thanks to the diverse backdrops ranging from urban to suburban to natural, the Kentucky Entertainment Incentive Program, and the local production crew offering budget-friendly services. Many indoor and outdoor scenes were shot in Jefferson County, specifically in and around Louisville, the county seat. Locals were hired to serve as passersby during shooting in the city, highlighting the use of practical Louisville locations to add authenticity to the visuals. Many locals also had supporting roles, such as authority figures, restaurant owners, and even Derrick’s family members. Jefferson County itself is a part of Kentucky’s official incentive records, providing production studios access to streets, residential neighborhoods, restaurants, and commercial districts. The production team captured the beauty of the state using wide shots of snow-capped hills, adding a sense of isolation and suspense to the sinister plot.
Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County became the base for additional filming of ‘Her Only Way Out.’ It is the other county mentioned in Kentucky’s incentive program, and considering that it offers more rural backdrops, we can expect the crew to have used it to add contrast to the visuals. It may also have been used to establish Kelly’s new life, away from Derrick. Other Lifetime movies shot in Kentucky include ‘Dancing with a Murderer,’ ‘Where the Heart Lands,’ ‘My Granddaughter Has Your Son’s Face,’ and ‘Murder and Mayhem at Mardi Gras.’The state of Kentucky is known for the Kentucky Derby and its horse racing culture, as well as bourbon whiskey, of which the state is the world’s largest producer, and Kentucky Fried Chicken.
Her Only Way Out Cast Details
The cast of ‘Her Only Way Out’ is led by Katy Wilson, Joe Kurak, and Sarah Borne. Katy is an avid reader, a tea lover, and a fan of Taylor Swift. She is well-versed in German, Russian, and Italian. Joe is also a stunt performer and an avid freerunner. He loves to spend time with animals and has a penchant for seasonal pastimes like apple picking and exploring trails. Sarah likes to ski and is into fitness, including yoga and swimming. She is into dancing and fashion as well, two qualities she often incorporates in her projects.
Katy Wilson as Kelly McKenzie
Katy Wilson plays Kelly McKenzie in ‘Her Only Way Out.’ Her other Lifetime projects include ‘Secret Life of a Good Wife,’ in which she plays Jenna, and ‘A Rose for Her Grave: The Randy Roth Story,’ in which we can spot her as Mary Jo Phillips. Some of her feature film roles are Nancy in ‘Slanted’ and Kayla in ‘Grounded.’ She portrays news reporter Davis in Netflix’s ‘Miss Governor’ and Jade in ABC’s ‘Will Trent.’
Joe Kurak as Derrick
Joe Kurak is Kelly’s abusive husband, Derrick, in the Lifetime thriller. The veteran actor can be seen as Jake Rossi in Lifetime’s ‘Snatched from the Crib.’ Among his most notable performances are Samuel Swartz in ‘Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries’ and ‘Sugarcreek Amish Mysteries: Blessings in Disguise,’ as well as Tyler Waxman in GAF’s ‘County Rescue,’ Keenan in ‘Wrapped in Christmas Memories,’ and Whitty in ‘Earthquake Underground.’
Sarah Borne as Dani
Sarah Borne portrays Kelly’s sister Dani in the movie. She also has a handful of Lifetime performances to her credit, including Lauren in ‘Pretty Hurts’ and Lauren, yes, the same name, in ‘Newlywed Nightmare.’ She also plays Georgia in the Hallmark movie ‘A Nashville Christmas Carol.’ As far as TV shows are concerned, she features in Hulu’s ‘Chad Powers,’ Paramount+’s ‘Tulsa King,’ and HBO Max’s ‘Doom Patrol.’
While Wilson, Kurak, and Borne feature as the main cast in ‘Her Only Way Out,’ they are joined by a talented bunch of supporting cast, including Logan Shephard as Luke, Alexis Prewitt as Frannie, Brian Spangler as Nick, James Alejandro Corso as Mason, Deena Dill as Diane, Abi Van Andel as Sandra, and Terrence Kiriokos as Reggie, and Karra Robinson as Melissa. The additional cast comprises Toni Fox as the news anchor, Ashley Menard as the restaurant owner, Payton Shae Taylor as the bartender, Matthew Riggs as the bar patron, and Abigail Moynihan as the Blood Drive coordinator.
Read More: A Knight to Remember: Filming Locations and Cast Details
