Shubhabrata Dutta
Abduction is one of the most popular plot devices used in crime movies. Kidnapping just happens to be fodder for great drama, and thus, we see it on-screen so often. Its mix of action and thriller, and sometimes even humor, makes it one of the most versatile genres where a story can be told in myriad ways, even if, seemingly, the bottom line remains the same. The thrill of watching an abduction movie unfold makes it one of the more popular genres, and streaming services like Hulu keep a collection of some great films for its viewers.
11. Stolen by Their Father (2022)
Based on Lizbeth Meredith’s memoir ‘Pieces of Me: Rescuing My Kidnapped Daughters,’ ‘Stolen by Their Father’ follows a mother (Sarah Drew) who breaks humongous barriers to get back her daughters who have been “taken” by her abusive ex-husband (Kimonas Kouris) to Greece. However, each step of hers must be taken with care so that the guy doesn’t find out what she is doing and thus disappear with the kids, seemingly forever.
Directed by Simone Stock, the film depicts the true story in a gripping manner, underscored by convincing performances. What adds to the narrative is the fact that Lizbeth herself was kidnapped as a child. To find out how she got back her kids, you can watch ‘Stolen by Their Father’ here.
10. Ruthless (2023)
Directed by Art Camacho, ‘Ruthless’ follows Harry (Dermot Mulroney), who loses his daughter to rape and murder. It has been four years since then, and when he comes to know that one of his students, Catia (Melissa Diaz), has been sold to a human trafficking ring, he decides that he will not let any other girl meet the same fate as his beloved daughter. Harry thus puts his wrestling skills to the test, hunting down all those who stand in his way and the girls. A typical abduction/action thriller that falls under the ‘Taken’ umbrella, ‘Ruthless’ stars Dermot Mulroney as Harry and Melissa Diaz as Catia. You can watch the movie here.
9. Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez (2022)
This horrifying film is based on a true case of kidnapping, that of 14-year-old Abby Hernandez, who was abducted by a guy named Nathaniel Kibby while she was returning home from school in North Conway, New Hampshire, on October 9, 2013. She was held in captivity for 9 months in a soundproof shipping container on Kibby’s secluded property, during which she was mentally and physically abused in various ways. However, she managed to befriend him, and he eventually let her go while warning her not to inform the police. Abby returned home on July 20, 2014, and Nathaniel was arrested on July 28, 2014, from Gorham. Abby’s suffering, endurance, and strength, along with her mother Zenya’s desperation to find her, have been portrayed in the film in a powerful manner. Lindsay Navarro plays the role of Abby Hernandez, Ben Savage plays the role of Nathaniel Kibby, and Erica Durance plays the role of Zenya. ‘Girl in the Shed: The Kidnapping of Abby Hernandez’ can be streamed here.
8. Girl in the Bunker (2018)
This film shows the real-life tragic kidnapping, torture, and rape of 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf (Julia Lalonde) by Vinson Filyaw (Henry Thomas), a construction worker, in Lugoff, South Carolina, in 2006 (September 6). She managed to escape after spending ten days in captivity (an 8×8 underground bunker dug by Filyaw) after having managed to befriend Filyaw by making conversation. Filyaw even set up booby traps near the entrance of the bunker in case someone came looking. To get a better account of things as they happened, you can watch the film here.
7. No Exit (2022)
Directed by Damien Power, ‘No Exit’ is a thriller based on Taylor Adams’ 2017 novel of the same name. It tells the story of addict Darby Thorne (Havana Rose Liu), who escapes from rehab to meet her mother in the hospital but ends up in a visitor’s center due to a blizzard. This is where things start getting complicated as she finds a kid locked inside a car that belongs to one of the people inside the center. The blizzard has compromised any kind of communication with emergency authorities, and it is up to her to find out who the culprit(s) is, as well as protect the kid. To know how she figures all this out, you can stream the movie here.
6. Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story (2020)
Directed by Jeffrey W. Byrd, the film tells the true story of the summer (July 10) of 1998. 30-something Gloria Williams, played by Niecy Nash, went into a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida, and walked out with newborn Kamiyah Mobley. Williams posed as a nurse and took the baby from her 16-year-old mother Shanara Mobley’s (Ta’Rhonda Jones) very arms. It took 18 years for a grown-up Kamiyah (Rayven Ferrel), aka Alexis (as named by Williams), to realize something was wrong. What made her realize this? And what happened then? Shocking, painful, and intriguing, ‘Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story’ is a story that cannot be forgotten. You can watch it here.
5. Abducted: The Carlina White Story (2012)
Very similar to ‘Stolen by My Mother: The Kamiyah Mobley Story,’ ‘Abducted: The Carlina White Story’ tells the true story of Carlina White, who was kidnapped as a 19-day-old infant from Harlem Hospital, New York City, in 1984 by Ann Pettway (real name Annugetta Pettway, played by Aunjanue Ellis) who was desperate for a baby after having had multiple miscarriages. Carline was raised as Nejdra “Netty” Nance (played by Keke Palmer) in Bridgeport, Connecticut. However, with time, Netty realized the possibility that Ann might not be her real mother, and upon reaching out to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, she was reunited with her biological parents in 2011 (23 years after she was taken). Ann Pettway was sentenced to 12 years in prison on kidnapping charges. Carlina’s biological parents, Joy White and Carl Tyson, are played by Sherri Shepherd and Roger Cross, respectively. You can watch the film here.
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4. Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey (2018)
Directed by Jim Donovan, this is based on the true story of the kidnapping of 17-year-old Lisa McVey (Katie Douglas) by serial killer Bobby Joe Long (Rossif Sutherland) from Tampa, Florida, in 1984 ( November 3). She was raped for 26 hours before Long decided to get rid of her and brought her to the woods to kill her but upon pleading, let her go as she had managed to gain his trust. However, in the 26 hours she was held at his apartment, she left evidence and memorized as much as she could. This is what allowed the police to locate Long, who was finally arrested (on November 16, 1984).
By the time he was arrested, he had already killed two more women, and his total known female victims had become 12 in number, out of which ten he had killed. He received the death penalty and was executed on May 23, 2019, in front of the two survivors, Lisa McVey and Linda Nuttall. It is also revealed that Lisa’s family tortured her. When she returned home after escaping, they didn’t believe her at first. Lisa refused to return to her home and agreed to be put in protective housing. You can watch the film here.
3. The Girl Who Escaped: The Kara Robinson Story (2023)
Directed by Simone Stock, this film is based on the real story of 15-year-old Kara Robinson, who managed to escape from her kidnapper’s apartment after being taken by him from her friend’s yard in West Columbia, South Carolina, on June 24, 2002. She was held for 18 hours before she strategized her escape, managed to do so while the guy, later identified as 38-year-old Richard Evonitz, was sleeping, and went to the police station to inform them about Evonitz. The man couldn’t be arrested because he shot himself to death during a car chase in Sarasota, Florida, on June 27, 2002. In the film, Kara Robinson is played by Katie Douglas, and Richard Evonitz is played by Kristian Bruun. To have a clearer idea about what happened and how Kara escaped, you can watch the film here.
2. Alone (2020)
An abduction movie that serves as a survival thriller as well, John Hyams’ ‘Alone’ shows a kidnapped woman trying to escape her captor in the Oregon wilderness. Jessica (Jules Willcox) opts for a mountainous region to relocate, trying to cope with her husband’s loss, but ends up getting kidnapped and held inside a secluded cabin by a psychopathic killer (Marc Menchaca). While she does manage to get out of the cabin, searching for help in the wilderness is a whole different ballgame, especially when the killer is behind her. Suspenseful and gripping in its narrative, even visually, ‘Alone’ is a rare addition to the abduction genre. You can watch it here.
1. Run (2020)
This thrilling psychological drama explores an unusual mother-daughter relationship underscored by a secret that goes back to the days right after the daughter was born. Chloe is now a teenager and was born premature, which is why she has a lot of issues and has thus been homeschooled by her mother, Diane. But Chloe slowly finds out that Diane has falsely imprisoned her. Eventually, after numerous harrowing events, Chloe comes across an article in the house basement of a couple whose baby was stolen from the hospital where she was born. Is Diane even her real mom? If not, then who is she? ‘Run’ offers a brilliant piece of acting by Sarah Paulson, who plays Diane. Chloe is played by Kiera Allen. Directed by Aneesh Chaganty, ‘Run’ can be watched right here.
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