Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart is a true crime documentary directed by Benedict Sanderson and produced by Gabby Alexander. It streamed to Netflix.
On June 5, 2002, Elizabeth Smart was kidnapped from her home in Salt Lake City, Utah. Pedophile Brian David Mitchell took her with the help of his accomplice, Wanda Barzee. As he inflicts abuse on her in the mountains, she wonders if she will be found. Meanwhile, her parents, siblings, family, and friends never gave up on her. Her sister, Mary Katherine, witnessed the kidnapping and remembers the voice of the kidnapper. The police search for her, with witnesses spotting him in public with two heavily draped women. One day, police officers are called by witnesses, leading to her miraculous discovery in March 2003.
I was almost fourteen when Elizabeth Smart was taken. I remember the headlines, the reports, and how useless the media was in trying to get information about her case. I remember being jaw-dropped when they announced she had been found, not necessarily because I thought she would not return, but because good news rarely comes on the television.
This documentary perfectly captures the feelings of hopelessness that come with a case like this. With interviews from family members, investigators, and Elizabeth Smart herself, we get a glimpse of how horrifying this case truly became.
Smart tells what happens to her in unsettling detail, highlighting the horrible nature of her kidnapping. Hearing it from her perspective was jarring, knowing how this crime impacted her. While it does have a happy ending, it was a horrific series of events that led to that happy ending. I applaud Smart for her courage and for sharing her story, but also for using her experience to help others through her organization.
I also applaud the filmmakers. They do an excellent job of exploring the crime, the investigation, and finally the rescue. They kept it focused on the family’s search for answers and on Smart’s fight for survival. It was not exploitative at all, but a glaring journey through the entire ordeal.
Netflix often veers into exploitation on these true crime documentaries, but not with this one. It was a jarring look into the story of Elizabeth Smart and how she overcame a nightmare.
Check out the trailer below:
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Disturbing conversations including sexual abuse, Strong foul language
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