The 2012 romantic drama, The Vow, starring Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum, has found its way to the top ten films chart on Netflix US, right in time for the conclusion of cuffing season.
The film revolves around a young couple, Paige and Leo, who face a tumultuous journey after Paige loses her memory in a car accident, forgetting her husband and their life together. Leo embarks on a mission to help Paige regain her memory and rekindle their love, but their path is fraught with challenges and heartache.
Sounds like your standard Hallmark-esque romantic fare, except The Vow is loosely inspired by true events. Directed by Michael Sucsy and written by Abby Kohn, Marc Silverstein, and Jason Katims, The Vow is based on real incidents that happened with Kim and Krickitt Carpenter.
The film climbed up to the third spot during the week of January 29th to February 4th, and here’s all you need to know about the true story The Vow is based on.
The true story that inspired The Vow
The Channing Tatum and Rachel McAdams film, The Vow, draws inspiration from the real-life story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Their tale began in 1993 with a romantic wedding ceremony, but just two months later, tragedy struck. A devastating car accident left Krickitt with a severe brain injury, causing her to lose all memory of her husband and their marriage.
Kim, devoted to his wife, stood by her side through her recovery, even as she struggled to remember their life together. Despite the immense challenges, they dedicated their lives to rebuilding their relationship from scratch. They attended couples counselling and the usual things couples do—going on walks, dinners, and movie nights, gradually re-establishing their bond all over again.
In a touching display of commitment, Kim vowed never to abandon Krickitt, stating at the premiere of the film, “I made a vow she would never have married a man who walked away,” as per the Tribune.
What happened to the real couple who inspired The Vow?
Kim and Krickitt renewed their marriage vows in 1996 and eventually had two children. However, their story took a heartbreaking turn a few years later. Despite their long history and shared experiences, Krickitt discovered that Kim had been unfaithful.
Krickitt told Inside Edition, “Kim was having an affair, I never thought that was a road we would go down because I made a vow for life. It was shocking and surprising to me because we were so committed to each other and to the vow.”
This led to the end of their 25-year marriage. Krickitt moved into a separate home with their daughter, while their son chose to live with Kim. Despite the pain of infidelity and divorce, Krickitt remains grateful for the cherished memories. “I’m thankful for the 25 years that I had because I have two amazing children, and we had so many great times together,” she said.
You can watch The Vow on Netflix and catch the trailer here:
