MovieChat Forums > Green River Killer (2006) Discussion > I worked with the real Gary Ridgeway for...

I worked with the real Gary Ridgeway for 7 years

posted 15 years ago by Heisaacson
12 replies | jump to latest

Well for starters. Uli Lommel hasn't the faintest idea about the real story of the green river killer.They must have done the very minimal research on the subject for this film. I worked with Ridgeway at the Kenworth trucking plant for 7 years. The movie portrayed him as a material handler for starters. When he wasn't at all to begin with. Ever since his arrest I have read all of the books on the subject. Written by Ann Rule, to Dave Reichart who led the investigation, to his wife who I have personally met. The movie is almost completely made up from the real story. He picked almost all of the prostitutes on the street. Not from bars. His sex with a hooker in a mobile home where in real life he never owned one during the time of the murders. His getting violent with coworkers scene is completely made up because he was always was calm and collective. The FBI said he cannot be the killer he is to much a perfect worker.I worked in a booth with him one time for 4 months where it was just me and him.I cannot believe it to this day. We used to take turns buying each other coffee. To me from a work standpoint he was the ideal coworker. The character of Boris is very strictly a figure of Uli Lommels imagination. Nothing in the books refer to him. And the lead detective Dave Reichart was never shown in the movie. And Ridgeway was arrested at the Kenworth plant. Not at home. And three charges against him was for paint particles, not dna. I have lived in the suburbs of Seattle for 37 years. And the GRK is like local legend around here. There are many of the dumping sites that Ridgeway used that still cross my mind whenever I drive past them. It is very sad that Uli Lommel has ripped off this story and his direction is very dull and doesn't pay homage or respect at all to the very tragic real story of the Green river killer. Very sad piece of film making.

[–] Miyagis_Sweaty_wifebeater 15 years ago

Lommel took the basics of the Green River Killer and made his own version of it. This is a movie, not a documentary.

[–] Heisaacson 15 years ago

Why do you stand up for this guy? He has had almost nothing but trash movies much of his career. The Boogyman was above average. But the rest is crap. I only saw GRK because I used to work with him. I found his version to be insultingly bad. He is probably the worst horror director sin Herschell Gordon Lewis.

[–] Miyagis_Sweaty_wifebeater 15 years ago

Naw, I've seen a lot worse. Funny that you mention Herschel Gordon Lewis because one of his films he pay homage to him. I hope he goes back to making art films since his contract with LionsGate is almost finished.

[–] ford_id42 15 years ago

I've seen a couple of Uli's films and I must say that there's no way in hell I would ever rent another one. Both sucked, and I'm being very polite about it. Uli needs to stay away from a camera for the rest of his life.

I have seen a lot worse, but I've also seen thousands of films way better than anything this man has ever made.

[–] nimstic 11 years ago

Your comment shocked me to the very core. This devil man has killed over 50 innocent people and yet not killed, but living in a prison. And there are these tons of people who worship him for his horrific persona? I could sense some kind of adulation for this man. A local legend? Yes. Feel sad for showing injustice to the great story of Green River Killer? Are you *beep* kidding me? I am sorry, I cannot believe there are people (and it seems there are a handful of your kind) who develop admiration for a disgusting, psychotic monster who should be sliced to death after being tortured for years.

[–] Brandy_x_Steven 15 years ago

I never heard of the GRK until I watched the movie on Lifetime. My mother then told me all about it. Did you honestly work with Gary Ridgeway?? That's almost unbelieveable. Did you ever suspect that he was the "Green River Killer" before actually finding out he was? Please reply back to this. I'd like to talk to you more on this subject. I'm very interested.
Email me at [email protected]

[–] dburns-16 15 years ago

OMG I can't believe I just rented a movie that was on Lifetime at one point. Does this mean my man card is still revoked even if I didn't know??

[–] Heisaacson 15 years ago

Me and Ridgeway even talked about the green river killer. His nickname was green river gary. He was the most ideal coworker to work with. I looked at him as a refreshing break from all of the games and the gossip in the workplace. I knew he was a suspect but he was just one out of thousands.

[–] RickRMortiz 14 years ago

On top of how crappy the portrayal of events were, the poor acting, and all..
At least get the river itself right.. It's the Green River, not the green creek, with a hand made signpost next to it to label what it is supposed to be.

The "river" victims were found in areas where the water was roughly 8ft deep, and 40 yards wide, and they were mainly in the kent valley near warehouse areas and golf courses along the river.

I mean geeze do some research if your going to base something on a real life event.

To me it's like saying I'm going to make a film about Hitler, He should be 6 ft tall and muscled like a wrestler.. and he lives in New York.

Just because you have copies of the real confession tapes, doesnt mean you researched it.

Movie was pure Grindhouse garbage.

[–] snowleopard 13 years ago

The guy probably did work with him. It's a large plant with a lot of employees, and Ridgeway worked there for many years.

Everything else the guy says is as very close to the truth as far as I know from reading about the GRK. Gary was inconspicuous, quiet, and very thorough at his job and in life, just as this guy says. His description is a lot closer to reality than this film I'm sure (I refuse to see the film, no matter what).

[–] indy_go_blue44 13 years ago

I'm currently reading Ann Rule's book "Green River, Running Red." I got the movie as part of a 3-pack from a bargain bin and I hope to hell the other two movies are better than this one. I read another book about the GRK which was more from the investigative viewpoint but can't remember the title of it. I think the only 3 things they got right in this movie is that the killer is Gary Ridgeway, they did happen in and around Seattle, and some of the bodies were dumped in or near the Green River. Other than that it's junk and not nearly worth its 1.8 rating.

I worked for about 15 years with a man who was later convicted of molesting 11 children. I didn't have trouble believing it because the guy tried too hard to be perfect and just seemed "hinky" to me.

[–] serval26 12 years ago

Yeah I'm from South King County and it's sort of like a six degrees of separation when it comes to Gary Ridgway.

I haven't seen this movie. It sounds really stupid. The filmmaker obviously used the phrase "Green River Killer" in a vain attempt to give his lame serial killer story idea some weight.