A Friend of the Family

Laura Harris plays a woman whose sanity is questioned by her small-town neighbors, the local police and even her husband, because she suspects that living next door to her is a serial rapist and murderer. David Snow: Kim Coates. Darris: Eric Johnson. Milt Mooney: Greg Lawson. Deb: Nkechi Odina. Stuart Gillard directs. Based on Alison Shaw’s 1998 memoir., This Canadian TV movie is based on the true story of infamous serial rapist and killer David Snow, as originally set down in print by Allison Shaw, the woman who brought Snow to justice. After narrowly escaping a sexual assault, Allison (Laura Harris) marries her rescuer Darris Shaw (Eric Johnson) and tries to put her past behind her by moving to a new neighborhood in Vancouver, British Columbia. Before long, however, Allison notices the unnatural interest taken in her by her next-door neighbor David Snow (Eric Johnson). Going public with her stories of David stalking and menacing her, Allison finds herself written off as paranoid and delusional by everyone, including the police and even her husband: It seems that Snow is a pillar of the community, beloved by all and utterly above suspicion. Eventually, a series of rapes and murders occur in the area–yet still no one but Allison is willing to link the amiable Mr. Snow to the wave of terror, despite the fact that several of the victims bear a startling resemblance to Allison! First seen on Canada’s CTV network in February of 2005, A Friend of the Family made its US cable debut via the Lifetime channel on July 4 of that same year.