Hoax: The Kidnapping of Sherri Papini (2023) Poster

User Reviews

Review this title
13 Reviews
Sort by:
Filter by Rating:
4/10
Disappointing retelling
goodpatron12319 February 2023
I was pretty excited to watch this film. Like much of America, I was fascinated by this bizarre, true story we witnessed in the news. Disappointingly this lifetime production was a. Dull retelling.

Even being based on a true story, it is typical in such films that liberties are taken, parts are exaggerated, and facts are changed. However, it seemed that this was unnecessarily done here; and worse, doing so actually took away from the story, rather than adding to it, as is usually intended.

For instance, legitimate details in the interviews and conversations we see/are all privy to online were altered, which made me question more of the film itself...and including them would've actually made the production more interesting!

I found Jamie King, the woman who portrayed Sherri, pretty dull and monotone, though she did at times capture Sherri's anxiety, deflection, and manipulative behavior.

There were a few times where some scenes were rushed or perhaps overedited, which only exacerbated viewer confusion AND boredom. It seemed apparent that this film had little-to-no cooperation from those actually involved In the ordeal. I'm sure that not many were cooperative, most especially Sherri herself, but it seemed so impersonal and amateurly crafted. There were moments where it was lightly comedic, and of course sad in theory, but even then and overall It lacked real soul. There is debate about whether or not the husband was at all aware before the conclusion of the investigation, but certainly their kids weren't; yet I found it difficult to be very sympathetic to anyone here.

The whole story/format felt rushed, and dare I say- after four+ years of that ridiculous case- even rushed to the screen. Like it felt a bit premature. I found the 1.5-hour recording of the concluding police interview online to be more intriguing than this movie of the same length. Perhaps after more time, those personally involved would be a bit more informative, thereby providing a more detailed telling, about which we could muster more understanding and compassion/empathy. Instead, I was actually ready for it to end.
15 out of 16 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
So disappointing
jenifer-m9922 March 2023
I've been looking forward to seeing this since it was first announced that it was a hoax. I smelled it when it first happened, I knew that the story Sherry Papini told was completely implausible. I don't ever expect Oscar level performances from TV movies, but Jamie King's performance was so awful, it was distracting. Josh Collins as Keith Papini was okay, but he overacted the "borderline abusive husband" role to such a degree that it ruined any sense of sympathy for him, when in reality, I felt that the real Keith was the true victim in this whole story. I thought the actress who played the investigator did a decent job, but otherwise, the only excuse I think of for how badly the movie was as a whole, was that it must have been directed by a seventh grader. Such a disappointment.
5 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
Doesn't have much to say
eve_dolluk4 February 2023
Im not a fan of these sort of TV movies but once in a while there is a little gem out there... This wasn't one of them.

It at times can be pretty awful and inane to occasionally passable as a drama. Jaime French is about the only good thing in this and thats barely.

Everyone goes through the motions and tells this day by day account of a true story I knew nothing about. After watching this i had no interest in finding out more.

The psychology of something like this I'd probably find interesting but the story in itself is pretty dull or its made out to be dull.

If you are really bored and really want to watch a reenactment of this true story then you might get something out of it, sadly not for me

3 or 4 out of 10.
9 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Don't BOTHER!!
picklynn-3000325 April 2023
I came here to talk about what a tragedy this feeble LMN attempt at storytelling was, between the terrible acting and the universal blandness, but what you need to do is go look at the VERY comprehensive review from back on 2/19/23 by goodpatron23. They nailed EVERYTHING I had to say and then some - - and with almost-perfect grammar, etc., so I have nothing to add except like I said above -- don't bother. (It has been my experience that ever since Lifetime went Canadian, it has gone tremendously downhill in terms of quality with regard to Lifetime movies. I just don't think the CBC filmmaking standards are the same.)
3 out of 5 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
6/10
Maybe with a few more decades in passing viewers will be more realistic in their expectations of a true crime story
Ed-Shullivan25 July 2023
I sometimes don't understand what viewers expect to see when the producers release a made for TV true crime film. Sherri Papini disappeared on November 2, 2016, when her husband stated she went out jogging and he found some of her belongings about a mile from her home in Redding, California. Mrs. Papini re-appeared on American Thanksgiving Day looking haggard after being dumped on the side of the road close to her home at which time she declared that she was kidnapped by two Mexican women and treated worse than a dog would be.

This story captured the hearts of millions of Americans and even broader worldwide as her story continued to spread. No doubt, the story of a white, blonde mother of two young children being kidnapped was sensationalized by the vast media coverage and Mrs. Sherri Papini was pressured into telling and re-telling her story to the authorities as well as to the press. Unbeknownst to Mrs. Papini's husband Keith, who was visibly distraught when his wife went missing and even more so with finding out first-hand what supposedly outright torture she was subjected to, he (Keith Papini) wanted to find his wife's abductors and prosecute them to the full extent of the law.

It may have taken the authorities a few years to get to the bottom of the true story and actual events but not until both the government and many caring people doled out some cold hard cash to the Papini family in their (supposedly) time of need did the truth finally come to the surface. Who wouldn't sympathize with Sherri Papini's awful plight of being kidnapped and tortured?

As for those viewers who were expecting first rate actors to play the key roles, I just have to remind them that this was a low budget made for TV film which probably took less than four (4) months from start to finish to being released on the small screen. In March 2022, it was reported that DNA found on Sherri Papini's clothing matched that of an ex-boyfriend, James Reyes, who confirmed that Papini stayed with him at his residence in Southern California during the time she was allegedly kidnapped. In September 2022, she was sentenced to 18 months in prison and fined $300,000.

I thought the producers, directors and all the actors did an admirable job of representing both the series of events and Ms. Papini's subsequent prosecution. If there is any sympathy to be expected it is for her husband Keith, and his two young children whose lives have been tarnished forever because of some critical indiscretions and self-absorbed need for false fame of Sherri Papini.

I give this made for TV film a credible 6 out of 10 IMDb rating.
2 out of 4 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
5/10
Another Canadian attempt at a mystery
drbreakwell26 March 2023
Warning: Spoilers
This Canadian made movie based on a true story which was so well done by 20/20 is an "OK" movie. It's too bad that the acting wasn't better by the actors who portrayed the cops. On the other side of things, money woes seems to be the main focus on the part of the husband. The wife in the movie isn't acting too traumetized by it all, then brings cookies to the police??? Why would this even be in the movie.? The scene in the restaurant was almost laughable. Then there was the " happy anniversary" scenes-- should not have even been in the movie. They should have focused more on the detective work and how they figured it out and why wasn't some of the story wasn't plausible.
1 out of 2 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
7/10
Sheri should be played by Amber Heard!
andras-ocskay4 March 2023
The youtube footage and the articles more interesting than the film.

The caracters were not alive in the film. Actors under performed.

It would be fun to see Amber Heard as Sheri Papini :'D

But the main actress was ok, she were acting ok.. But I did not see the real monster as Sheri. At Youtube and on her photos you can see something is odd with Sheri. I can not tell on the actress who played.

By the way Amber Heard is similar, when you just look at her, you can tell (with no offence) something is not right in her mind.

The actor who played Keith was not good enough, rather bad.

The real Keith way much better than the actor who played him. At least they should find a similar body language guy, who is talks and moves like Keith.

I say again Youtube is more enjoyable than thie acting in this movie.

Detectives bended up to one persen and made it black woman. Meh. The real detectives better, more natural.

The actress who played the detective is awesome, she is really good. Only thing what is wrong is the writers who wrote the script and planned the play.

The writers messed up the film unfortunatelly:'( I am disappointed to see the truth from the begining and took the excitement off from me.

I would rather figure out myself what happened.

The writers completely ruined the story.

Also the screenplay is dull and unrealistic.

Too simplified, and too short.

The time jumps messy and distractive.

There is a significant point with the DNA test but that was not explained enough (23andme).

About the film style I liked this is like a low budget tv movie a bit, just like a based on true story BBC films.

Camera is good, and editing is good, have not find problems with it.

Only the ending part is messy, too quick cut, I feel like scenes are missing, and I have no idea how much they jumped.

Yeah, maybe a text say "3 years later" or something, but I can not feel the time passed.

In the first third of the movie I can feel the time, even I feel without the text "1 wek later"/"2 week later" I can feel the time passed.

But at the end I can not feel any time pass, and feels unrealistic.

It should be amontage about news, youtubers, other news, and show something like time passing.. and than show suddenly the Papini case again, than I can feel the time gone forward 2-3 yeras.. Writers are terrible in this movie.

They killed the story and killed the last quarter of this act. Also they kiled so many paths and charatcters with blending it together.

I would happy to watch for 3-4 hours if they leave the characters and the other paths in the film and would not feel long.

The story itself interesting enough to watch it.

But the witers killed the story.

I try to avoid his writers in the future.
1 out of 10 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
STOP
partypest28 April 2023
Stop releasing balloons into the atmosphere. Stop releasing balloons into the atmosphere. How many times do people have to be told this?? How is causing more death a good way to remember someone's memory. Now, as for this film. Her hair colour does not exist in nature. Her husband is more interested in selling her story than consoling her. She's like a robot. Does she even feel emotions besides feeling sorry for herself. If you're not happy in your relationship, leave. Don't cheat or lie. Once again before I submit my review... do not release balloons into the atmosphere. Don't bother with this film.
3 out of 13 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
4/10
A Bit Flat and Lacking
destiny_west25 July 2023
I had followed the case of Sherri Papini through a true crime podcaster that I watch. The case fascinated me, that a woman would go to such lengths as what Papini did with her fake kidnapping, that I thought I must check out the movie.

Right from the start I was aware that the acting was very flat as was the story telling. I am usually a fan of Jaime King, I love her as Rose in the series Black Summer, however I really struggled to watch her portray Sherri Papini. I struggled with all the cast.

For a movie based on a true crime I was very disappointed. I hope someone else has a crack at turning this story into a film.
0 out of 1 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
8/10
Sherri Papini and the Myth of Victimhood
lavatch30 January 2023
Warning: Spoilers
Sherri Louise Papini had a vivid imagination. She was also a pathological liar with deep-seated insecurities. Throughout her life, she blamed others who apparently left her feeling unfulfilled. This was a recipe for disaster that the mother of two perpetrated on her loving family.

The filmmakers were successful in making the implausible hoax of a kidnapping appear credible. The performances were superb. Sherri was a dynamic individual who impressed others with her fastidiousness and attention to detail. She was good at concealing her deficiencies.

Any love and compliments sent her way were clearly not enough for Sherri. It was due to the efforts of a dedicated detective that Sherri's "act" was exposed.

One of the most interesting characters in the film was Chris, the former boyfriend of Sherri, who was duped into the phony kidnapping scheme. The most extraordinary act was that of Chris firing hockey pucks at Sherri to give the appearance of her being physically abused.

The detective was correct in asserting that the genuine victims in the case were the people of the Redding community who had collectively shown unconditional support for Sherri's return that money was contributed and hundreds of hours of police work was devoted to discovering her whereabouts.

Sherri delivered a moving and contrite speech to the judge, resulting in a lenient sentence of eighteen months in prison and a $300,00 fine, a relatively small price to pay to be Queen for a Day in the Hall of Fame of victims.
10 out of 17 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
2/10
Waste of time
qgmnrx28 October 2023
After watching actual footage pertaining to this case this movie was a complete let down. If anything, it makes Sherri seem weak and basic versus addressing her real mental health. Sherri seemed like a complaining kept woman who "stayed for the kids". There are options this is no longer the 60's. They also made Keith seem like a "bad" husband when relationships are complicated. I wish they portrayed Sherri for her true manipulative and narcissistic self. I couldn't even make it to the end!! Definitely not worth it! I expected more from this movie and they didn't even cut her hair like Sherri actually did!!
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
1/10
Totally inaccurate!!
Seattlefilmbuff17 March 2024
Warning: Spoilers
I can usually find positive in anything I watch but not this! The acting was so flat and the husband looked older than her actual husband and all of a sudden after she came back they portrayed him as though he was at some kind of detective asking her odd questions. Maybe Sherri didn't have bangs at the time of her kid napping like she did on all the missing posters and news flashes, but I think bangs would've made the actress Seymour believable as the character Sherri .

Then when she was found on the side of the road and was in the hospital that seemed completely anti-climatic and very subdued and her hair wasn't cut in the manner we were led to believe during all the news coverage. She did not even look dirty bruised or abused at all in this Movie of the week where as I'm sure when she was found I imagine she would've looked worse.

I'm halfway half lesson on how to act badly I'm just gonna fast forward to the end to just get it over with!
0 out of 0 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink
10/10
Interesting portrayal of a disturbed person
beckwith-265672 February 2023
Warning: Spoilers
The movie is good at capturing the ambiguity of Sherri's character, and how it unfolds. It was thought provoking in terms of Sherri's relation to her mother and husband. It's hard to imagine someone being so narcissistic and going to such extraordinary lengths in order to achieve validation.

I liked the structure of the story telling, and I particularly enjoyed Jaime King, and her ability to portray an interesting and attractive, but very disturbed character.

I found the end of the movie very satisfying in how it captures Sherri's defiance in her final statement that 'god doesn't give you more than you can handle'. It stands in contrat to her contrition at the trial.
3 out of 6 found this helpful. Was this review helpful? Sign in to vote.
Permalink

See also

Awards | FAQ | User Ratings | External Reviews | Metacritic Reviews


Recently Viewed