6 Kidnapping Thrillers You Might Have Overlooked

      Casey Chong introduces six kidnapping thrillers that you might have missed…

      Kidnapping thrillers have captivated audiences for many years, with several noteworthy films to highlight. For example, during the 80s, titles such as Frantic, featuring Harrison Ford, and George Sluizer’s The Vanishing come to mind, while the 90s produced high-profile films like Misery, A Perfect World, and the box-office hit Ransom. Continuing into the 2000s, the genre remains popular with films like the remake of Man on Fire, Taken, Prisoners, and Speak No Evil. However, some films have slipped under the radar or been forgotten for various reasons. With that in mind, here are six abduction thrillers that may not be on your radar…

      **Kidnap (2017)**

      As the title suggests, Kidnap is quite straightforward: Karla (Halle Berry), a single mother and waitress, discovers that her beloved 6-year-old son Frankie (Sage Correa) is being abducted while she is distracted by a phone call. The film follows a series of intense chases, first on foot and then by car. Director Luis Prieto keeps the story tight, delivering a streamlined narrative from start to finish. He adeptly establishes the mother-son relationship between Karla and Frankie, making it easy to empathize with the frustration Karla experiences upon her son's kidnapping. Berry’s strong commitment to her role as a determined mother who will do anything to rescue her child enhances the film's impact. While Kidnap may stretch credibility in places, it remains an engaging and well-paced thriller.

      **The Collector (1965)**

      Renowned director William Wyler, known for Ben-Hur and The Best Years of Our Lives, took a surprising turn with The Collector, venturing into psychological thriller territory. This dark and twisted film demonstrates Wyler's understanding of how to weave together a compelling narrative. The plot centers around a lonely introvert, Freddie (Terence Stamp), who kidnaps the girl of his dreams, Miranda (Samantha Eggar), drugging her before imprisoning her in a stone cellar at his remote farmhouse. As a character-driven film, The Collector highlights the performances of Stamp and Eggar, with Freddie's deluded desire for a one-sided romance creating a disquieting atmosphere. Wyler’s deliberate, slow-burning direction gradually unveils themes of obsession and power dynamics.

      **The Captive (2014)**

      This lesser-known abduction thriller from Canadian director Atom Egoyan stars Ryan Reynolds stepping away from comedy to portray a distraught father mourning the loss of his daughter, Cassandra (Alexia Fast). Her disappearance has strained his marriage with his wife (Mireille Enos, who delivers a strong supporting performance). Egoyan effectively portrays the desperation and anger that Reynolds' character faces daily as time passes without resolution. The narrative spans eight years but presents a fragmented timeline, enhancing the sense of dread. With a cold and bleak tone, Egoyan’s direction captures the film's somber atmosphere, bolstered by its wintry setting.

      **Trapped (2002)**

      Based on Greg Illes’ novel 24 Hours, Trapped is an intense abduction thriller that unfortunately didn't resonate with audiences during its release, earning only $13.4 million against its $30 million budget. Director Luis Mandoki, transitioning from erotic drama to romantic drama, maintains a tight and suspenseful pace as frightened mother Karen (Charlize Theron) tries to outsmart her captor, Joe (Kevin Bacon). The film's intensity is heightened by their verbal exchanges, and at one point, Karen uses her sexuality to catch Joe off guard. Mandoki also elicits strong performances from the supporting cast, including Stuart Townsend as her husband, Courtney Love as one of the kidnappers, and a young Dakota Fanning as the kidnapped daughter.

      **Amber Alert (2024)**

      With a considerable budget, Kerry Bellessa reimagines his 2012 found-footage film Amber Alert, presenting it in a more conventional format. His precise direction begins with a pre-title scene where a young girl is kidnapped, leading a 911 dispatcher to issue an alert using the child abduction system named after real-life victim Amber Hagerman. The film focuses on two unlikely strangers (Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams) teaming up to locate the car suspected of transporting the abducted girl. Clocking in at just 90 minutes, Bellessa efficiently establishes the characters without wasting time, keeping the story as realistic as possible and avoiding typical Hollywood tropes.

      **Suicide Kings (1997)**

      Director Peter O’Fallon expertly mixes suspense, dark comedy, and gangster elements in Suicide Kings, which follows a group of college students who attempt to kidnap former mob boss Charlie Barret (Christopher Walken) in exchange for a $2 million ransom. However, their plan spirals into unforeseen complications