Naman Shrestha
Inspired by real events, Lifetime’s ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ is a biographical crime drama film that revolves around a 15-year-old aspiring model named Alina Thompson. In order to make it as a model, she isn’t afraid to take some cautionary steps. So, when the opportunity arises, she attends an amateur photo casting call without informing her parents, Carl and Nancy. There, she meets with a photographer named William Bradford.
Little does she know that William is a serial killer hiding behind the facade of a photographer. Gradually, Alina becomes a victim of his charm and obsession. After deciding to make her his next victim, the killer hatches a deadly scheme. However, his plans are thwarted when her father, Carl, comes to her rescue. Helmed by Michelle Ouellet, the thriller movie is set in Los Angeles during the 1980s. The visuals and backdrops of the City of Angels manage to transport the viewers back to that era and offer an immersive experience.
Where Was The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story Filmed?
The shooting for ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ was carried out primarily in Ontario, Ottawa. However, a few portions were also seemingly shot on location in Los Angeles, California. From what we can tell, principal photography for the Lifetime production took place over the course of a few weeks in the month of May 2025.
Ottawa, Ontario
A major chunk of ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ was lensed in and around the capital city of the nation — Ottawa. Situated in the southern portion of Ontario, the city doubled as Los Angeles. In order to authentically portray LA of the 1980s, many of the streets and neighborhoods in Ottawa were redressed aptly. For interior scenes, the cast and crew also seemingly took over a few actual establishments in the city. The suburban setting associated with Los Angeles was also captured accurately, thanks to the vast and versatile landscape of the O-town.
During a conversation with Geek Girl Authority, Sarah Cleveland was asked about a highlight she had from the experience of being a part of the film. She claimed that she had a very emotional scene, during which she “had such a wonderful experience in terms of the respect that was given on set for that moment, and the quiet to get into that character.” She added, “We continued through all the takes without yelling ‘cut’ in between and without resetting. I got to stay in that moment and remain in that heavy feeling while we did several takes so that they had different ones to use. You don’t often get the opportunity to have that. For everyone to be quiet on set for that amount of time, allowing me to be in that moment, was really huge.”
Los Angeles, California
Since the story unfolds in Los Angeles, it is only fitting that the production team of ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ set up camp on location in the southern part of the Garden State. From the looks of it, they possibly taped several establishing shots of the city, including the suburban areas. In the backdrop, you might also spot iconic landmarks and buildings, including the Los Angeles City Hall, the Hollywood Sign, Griffith Observatory, Venice Beach, Wilshire Grand Center, and Gas Company Tower.
The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story Cast Details
Brielle Robillard, Steve Byers, and Sam Trammell brought the narrative of ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story’ to life through their impressive onscreen performances. Brielle has been in the industry for more than a decade, starting from a couple of shows and a short film. On the other hand, besides acting, Steve has also served as an executive producer for a couple of movies, such as ‘Wickensburg’ and ‘Return to Wickensburg.’ Similarly, Sam has written and produced a 2015 movie titled ‘All Mistakes Buried.’
Brielle Robillard as Alina Thompson
In the Lifetime production, Brielle Robillard steps into the role of Alina Thompson, the teenager who becomes a target of a serial killer. Widely recognized for her roles in ‘The Silencing’ as Gwen and ‘Place of Bones’ as Hester, Brielle also features in a bunch of TV shows, such as ‘Endlings,’ ‘Minority Report,’ ‘The Holiday Shift,’ ‘The Lake,’ and ‘Nurses.’ Her other movie credits include ‘My Favorite Christmas Melody,’ ‘The Blind,’ and ‘We’re Still Together.’
Steve Byers as William Bradford
Steve Byers essays the character of William Bradford, the serial killer, in ‘The Girl Who Survived: The Alina Thompson Story.’ You might find his face familiar because of his portrayal of Andrew May Jr. in ‘Slasher’ and Bobby Woods in ‘The Madness.’ He has also showcased his acting prowess in various other shows like ‘Supergirl,’ ‘Shadowhunters,’ ‘Workin’ Moms,’ ‘Reign,’ and ‘Glow & Darkness.’ As far as his movie credits are concerned, they comprise ‘What Would You Kill For?,’ ‘Daddy’s Deadly Secret,’ ‘Royally Yours, This Christmas,’ and ‘The Perfect Pairing.’
Sam Trammell as Carl Thompson
Sam Trammell portrays Carl Thompson, Alina’s father, in the crime movie. Given his versatility, he has been featured in different kinds of projects over the course of his career. He is known for his portrayal of Sam Merlotte in ‘True Blood,’ President Ben Hayes in ‘Homeland,’ Logan in ‘Organ Trail,’ and Michael in ‘The Fault in Our Stars.’ Sam also stars in ‘Reckoning,’ ‘The Order,’ ‘Chicago Med,’ ‘Generation,’ ‘This Is Us,’ ‘Imperium,’ ‘The Tiger Rising,’ and ‘Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase.’
Ashley Jones plays the role of Nancy Thompson, Alina’s mother and Carl’s wife. Besides the lead cast, various other talented actors feature in the thriller in supporting roles, including Rachel Sellan as Shari Miller, Russell Yuen as Detective Mitchell, Alex Gravenstein as Detective Nat Cole, Gabriel Burrafato as John, Jessica Grossi as Maria Romano, Bukola Ayoka as Nathalie, and Kristen Kurnik as Alina Thompson (2006). In addition, Laura Provenzano (Tracy), Sarah Cleveland (Jane), and Christian Paul (Detective Peters) also feature in the Lifetime film.
Read More: Lifetime’s A Stranger’s Child: Filming Locations and Cast Details
