Not so great.. the editing is bad. The acting is bad...the script ot slow ...the movie could be 30mins shorter... really had to force myself to watch till the end. The Teacher didn't seem convincing and the girl was not convincing either...The acting makes ot not so believable and the dialogue is silly... Don't know why I bothered watch this.. it has many slow boring scenes too .It looks like one of those movies made by evangelical churches? Ot just seems very long-winded... Just not worth watching.. would have been better they did a documentary style than this format..I almost fell asleep watching this..
5 Reviews
Abducted by My Teacher - ** out of *****
unclejeff12 March 2024
I'll start out by giving this Lifetime movie a small pat on the back - it doesn't feel exploitative like many of these movies do. And an introduction by Elizabeth Smart ensures that this is not going to be trashy. Unfortunately, it's just not that well made. And I will take some of the blame. I try very hard to go into every movie with an open mind - but for the life of me, I couldn't grasp little DJ Conner from ROSEANNE becoming a sexual predator. It doesn't help that he is sporting facial hair that looks as though a 3-year-old drew on him with a magic marker. Another set of facial hair at the very end is so bad that it made me do a spit take. I would be very interested to see young Howell in better material. I sense the spark of a potentially good actress, although her accent here made me think of a Holly Hunter mini-me. The screenplay waivers between After School Special and psychological textbook. As a linear story, it's quite poor. Elizabeth begins the film living with a single father and two sisters. Later, they totally disappear without explanation, and she is living with an older brother. Supporting performances are average at best - Tracy Penner as Fishman's wife is particularly poor. This is based on a true story, and those involved deserve more than just good intentions.
Groomers & Ghouls
lavatch14 August 2023
Warning: Spoilers
At the start of this film, there was a "trigger warning" about the graphic content to follow in the harrowing story of Elizabeth "Beth" Thomas. While it was indeed a difficult film to watch, it was nonetheless well-crafted and exceptionally well-performed. It also included an important message about "groomers" and "ghouls."
One of the best scenes in the film was a brief episode where a psychiatrist is counseling Beth Thomas after her traumatic experience with the predator Tad Cummins, Beth's biology teacher who in effect abducted her and took her on the road until his apprehension by the FBI.
The psychiatrist defined for Beth the nefarious practices of a "groomer." Beth was brainwashed into believing that Tad could provide her with comfort and surcease from her difficult family life. He used his cleverness and deceit to entrap her, and the result was a textbook demonstration of the Stockholm syndrome, wherein the victim identifies with and becomes enmeshed with her captor.
But the film also explored the cruelty of a sadistic public that actually blamed this young woman for being a "Jezabel." The ignorance of these misguided people who harassed Beth on social media and attempted to ostracize her was truly appalling. The best term for these uninformed and insensitive creatures is "ghouls."
It was shocking to think that in the twenty-first century people could be so ignorant that they could not distinguish the criminal actions of a 53-year-old man from those of an impressionable 16-year-old. For this reason, the film could potentially be an educational experience for a callous, insensitive, and ignorant assortment of cretins whose lives seem devoid of compassion.
One of the best scenes in the film was a brief episode where a psychiatrist is counseling Beth Thomas after her traumatic experience with the predator Tad Cummins, Beth's biology teacher who in effect abducted her and took her on the road until his apprehension by the FBI.
The psychiatrist defined for Beth the nefarious practices of a "groomer." Beth was brainwashed into believing that Tad could provide her with comfort and surcease from her difficult family life. He used his cleverness and deceit to entrap her, and the result was a textbook demonstration of the Stockholm syndrome, wherein the victim identifies with and becomes enmeshed with her captor.
But the film also explored the cruelty of a sadistic public that actually blamed this young woman for being a "Jezabel." The ignorance of these misguided people who harassed Beth on social media and attempted to ostracize her was truly appalling. The best term for these uninformed and insensitive creatures is "ghouls."
It was shocking to think that in the twenty-first century people could be so ignorant that they could not distinguish the criminal actions of a 53-year-old man from those of an impressionable 16-year-old. For this reason, the film could potentially be an educational experience for a callous, insensitive, and ignorant assortment of cretins whose lives seem devoid of compassion.
Well done Lifetime!
haroot_azarian9 December 2023
This was a very moving and excellently made Lifetime movie that I have seen to-date! I did not know about the Elizabeth Thomas kidnapping until I read the synopsis on IMDb. So naturally I Googled her name and read a few articles about the case.
I find it absolutely disgusting how some people victim-blame in this and other similar cases? Do they have no shame? How can they just blame the poor girl and still call that vile predator the real victim? Do the math, how many fifteen year olds seduce their fifty year old teachers? I have seen the real pictures of that animal and he is fugly as hell!
He saw a girl who did not have any friends and came from a struggling, but not dysfunctional family, and he pounced on her and groomed her to the point where she accepted his offer to run away together. Especially when he threatened to kill himself (which to me is a total lie) so that she would be put on a difficult spot and give in.
And only getting twenty years for what he did? I don't care if he pleaded guilty, he should have received the right punishment. Elizabeth was dead right. He should have got thirty-eight years, one year for each day she was his captive. I hope that animal, whose vile name I refuse to right, dies on prison, of natural causes of course. I am saying this so IMDb moderators don't reject my contribution. I do not believe in violence. All I am saying he does not deserve to see the world outside of prison ever again.
My only criticism is after Beth's reunification with her family we only see her brother right till the end, and rest vanish as if they're not important!
On a final note, Summer Howell was absolutely superb in this. I am going to watch out for her for I believe she'll go big on the silver screen. I highly recommend this movie. This one gets ten stars from me.
I find it absolutely disgusting how some people victim-blame in this and other similar cases? Do they have no shame? How can they just blame the poor girl and still call that vile predator the real victim? Do the math, how many fifteen year olds seduce their fifty year old teachers? I have seen the real pictures of that animal and he is fugly as hell!
He saw a girl who did not have any friends and came from a struggling, but not dysfunctional family, and he pounced on her and groomed her to the point where she accepted his offer to run away together. Especially when he threatened to kill himself (which to me is a total lie) so that she would be put on a difficult spot and give in.
And only getting twenty years for what he did? I don't care if he pleaded guilty, he should have received the right punishment. Elizabeth was dead right. He should have got thirty-eight years, one year for each day she was his captive. I hope that animal, whose vile name I refuse to right, dies on prison, of natural causes of course. I am saying this so IMDb moderators don't reject my contribution. I do not believe in violence. All I am saying he does not deserve to see the world outside of prison ever again.
My only criticism is after Beth's reunification with her family we only see her brother right till the end, and rest vanish as if they're not important!
On a final note, Summer Howell was absolutely superb in this. I am going to watch out for her for I believe she'll go big on the silver screen. I highly recommend this movie. This one gets ten stars from me.
Doesn't feel like a Lifetime
MickyG33328 May 2024
Warning: Spoilers
7.0 stars.
I was hesitant as soon as I saw this was a Lifetime adaptation of a true story. I expected to have disappointment and to feel an immediate desire to switch to the next movie in my Hulu lineup. But after about ten minutes, I totally forgot this was a Lifetime movie. It's much better than the usual. It's very emotional, but not in a way where it feels contrived or fake, it's actually quite real to life (in my personal opinion).
The main actress conveys a detached 15 year old, but she is also a very dynamic and likeable person too. She does all the cooking and cleaning in a household of 4, but doesn't appear to complain. She is alone at a new school, she's never been to a normal school in her life. She is called trailer trash often, and scorned for being different, yet she has a certain level of poise and self-respect. This teacher picks up on her situation and deftly manipulates her into feeling comfortable with him as her benefactor.
If this is how her situation truly was, kudos to her for how well she emerged from the chaos. And no wonder the teacher found her to be irresistible, risked his career, his life....no wonder everyone thought she was a tr@mp who seduced an older, but very popular teacher. And through all of the complexities of this story, the filmmakers nailed it. It's from her perspective, that's the point, and the theme is effectively conveyed.
I was sympathetic both to the girl and the teacher. He seemed to be a lost soul who let his affections for a young girl get out of control. It happens. It's a crime. He pays for it with 20 years in the slammer.
I personally think if this movie's portrayal is accurate, maybe he is paying a bit too much. Was she manipulated? Yes. Was she acquiescent? Yes. Did she really feel threatened to the point that her life was in danger? I don't think so. Again, this is how it's all portrayed in the film. Assuming this is somewhat accurate from her own account, this man should have been sentenced to half of what he got. If you're going to make a film accurate, then don't create undue sympathy for the criminal. Ten years is still a lot of time. It's not like he killed her. If you are thinking: "this reviewer has no idea what he's talking about, she was kidnapped and held at gunpoint". That's not what the movie shows. I never read about this case, so I don't really know any of the facts, except for what this film shows us, and this movie obviously has a different perspective than the jury who sentenced him.
I was hesitant as soon as I saw this was a Lifetime adaptation of a true story. I expected to have disappointment and to feel an immediate desire to switch to the next movie in my Hulu lineup. But after about ten minutes, I totally forgot this was a Lifetime movie. It's much better than the usual. It's very emotional, but not in a way where it feels contrived or fake, it's actually quite real to life (in my personal opinion).
The main actress conveys a detached 15 year old, but she is also a very dynamic and likeable person too. She does all the cooking and cleaning in a household of 4, but doesn't appear to complain. She is alone at a new school, she's never been to a normal school in her life. She is called trailer trash often, and scorned for being different, yet she has a certain level of poise and self-respect. This teacher picks up on her situation and deftly manipulates her into feeling comfortable with him as her benefactor.
If this is how her situation truly was, kudos to her for how well she emerged from the chaos. And no wonder the teacher found her to be irresistible, risked his career, his life....no wonder everyone thought she was a tr@mp who seduced an older, but very popular teacher. And through all of the complexities of this story, the filmmakers nailed it. It's from her perspective, that's the point, and the theme is effectively conveyed.
I was sympathetic both to the girl and the teacher. He seemed to be a lost soul who let his affections for a young girl get out of control. It happens. It's a crime. He pays for it with 20 years in the slammer.
I personally think if this movie's portrayal is accurate, maybe he is paying a bit too much. Was she manipulated? Yes. Was she acquiescent? Yes. Did she really feel threatened to the point that her life was in danger? I don't think so. Again, this is how it's all portrayed in the film. Assuming this is somewhat accurate from her own account, this man should have been sentenced to half of what he got. If you're going to make a film accurate, then don't create undue sympathy for the criminal. Ten years is still a lot of time. It's not like he killed her. If you are thinking: "this reviewer has no idea what he's talking about, she was kidnapped and held at gunpoint". That's not what the movie shows. I never read about this case, so I don't really know any of the facts, except for what this film shows us, and this movie obviously has a different perspective than the jury who sentenced him.
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