Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart Review: This true crime documentary revisits the 2002 abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her home in Utah and the nine terrifying months that followed. Through Elizabeth’s own reflections, along with insights from her family and investigators, the documentary pieces together what happened during her captivity and eventual rescue.
More than just a retelling of the crime, the film focuses on Elizabeth reclaiming her voice, explaining why she chose to share her story years later.
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Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart Netflix Director
Benedict Sanderson
The runtime of Kidnapped: The Elizabeth Smart is approximately 90 minutes.
Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart Review
There are many crime documentary movies on Netflix, but this one stands out for its bizarre story and skilful direction. The case follows the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, where a girl was kidnapped from her very own bedroom. The only witness to this crime is none other than her nine-year-old little sister, Mary Catherine, who was present at that time in the room. According to Mary Catherine, she heard a man coming to their room, threatening her big sister not to make noise, and then skillfully taking her, without creating much of a fuss.
This completely shook the media and the police department because of the absurdity of this situation. The case was also very evasive because the voice of the kidnapper sounded familiar to Mary Catherine, but because of her young age, it was difficult for her to remember the details. Thus, a full-scale investigation gets launched, and even the Smart family gets dragged into this. The documentary does a good job of depicting the side of the family who are living through this terrible and harrowing time. The movie chronicles what the family goes through in a crisis and how they overcame their situation by sticking together.
While the documentary goes on, we do get some possible suspects that keep the audience interested in the case and build a mystery. But what made the entire case more gripping is the role of Mary Catherine, the sole witness of the whole thing. Her involvement impacted the case because she came with key details within the story and became the only person who could solve the mystery behind Elizabeth’s disappearance.
When we finally get the big reveal, the main perpetrator is definitely someone unexpected. Despite being a child, Mary Catherine managed to remember this man just from his voice, and that showcases the tenacity of the little girl who did not stop searching for her sister in her mind. The involvement also showcased how religious fanaticism can become a dangerous tool for an evil man to justify his actions.
The most disturbing aspect of this case is the way emotional manipulation can break a person down into submission. When a young girl is constantly threatened with severe consequences for trying to escape, that fear doesn’t disappear easily. It lingers, even when an opportunity to run presents itself, as was seen here. The case also highlights several missteps made by the investigation team, underscoring how situations like these are often far more complex than they appear.
Verdict
I absolutely loved this documentary film because of how intense it was with its twists and turns. The case is absolutely incredible, with some of the facts seeming like fiction because of how incredibly mind-bending they are. The cinematography of this movie is also phenomenal, as it keeps the greyish tone to evoke a sense of unease and grimness. If you love a good true crime documentary film, you should definitely check this out.
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