Cleveland Abduction (2015 TV Movie) User Reviews

A Rather Distant Feel To A Real Life Horror Story

[Theo Robertson · 6/10 · 12 May 2015]

The Cleveland abductions ? You remember that don't you ? No ? Let me refresh your memory . , A couple of years ago police in Cleveland Ohio raided a house belonging to one Ariel Castro who as it turned out kept three young women as captives . One of whom Michelle Knight had been held prisoner for eleven years . You remember it now and it'd be impossible to forget this true life horror story and this TVM tells of Michelle's ordeal

Now to be fair having the story told through a television film via the Lifetime Channel is both a blessing and a curse . A blessing that we're not going to be subjected to extreme exploitation that's going to keep us awake for nights on end due to the disturbing subject material but at the same time a curse that the restrain of a TVM really doesn't do the story justice . In this medium it's a rather uneasy mix but doesn't stop an opening caption that "Contains distressing scenes . Viewer discretion advised" . The constant rapes and beatings of Michelle are thankfully left mainly to the imagination but at the same time you're left thinking that this isn't due to any cerebral reason except that you're not allowed to show that type of stuff on the channel . In other words the story is shaped by outside criteria that have got absolutely nothing to do with the story and everything to do with outside factors . Another irritant is that you never get to feel much in the way of Michelle's hopes of ever being rescued being dashed time and again which I'm sure must have constantly happened . None of this is helped by the feeling of time passing being conspicuous by its absence and much of this TVM feels like it has taken place in 90 minutes rather than the eleven years of Michelle's real time imprisonment . There's not enough foundations for the audience to emotionally invest enough in to Michelle's ordeal which is terrible but at the same time abstract which means despite the compelling subject matter the characters remain entirely distant

The Cruel Story of a Monster and His Victims

[claudio_carvalho · 8/10 · 23 September 2015]

In 2002, the single mother Michelle Knight (Taryn Manning) is walking to the court for the custody case of her five year-old son Joey, of whom she had lost custody. She realizes that she is late and accepts the ride from her acquaintance Ariel Castro (Raymond Cruz), who is the father of a schoolmate. He lures Michelle telling that his dog delivered several puppies and he would like to give one to her for Joey. Once inside his house, he imprisons her with chains in a dark room. For eleven years, Michelle is beaten and submitted to sexual abuse and abortion. In 2003 and 2004, Ariel also kidnaps and abuses of Amanda Berry (Samantha Droke), who has a child with him, and Gina DeJesus (Katie Sarife). In 2013, Amanda succeeds in escaping from the house and the police arrive and release the women.

"Cleveland Abduction" is a great TV movie that tells the cruel story of a monster and his victims. The direction and performances are impressive for a movie made for television. I still recall this notorious case in the Brazilian news and it is very sad to see how cruel a human being can be. My vote is eight.

Title (Brazil): "Sequestro em Cleveland" ("Cleveland Abduction")

Half-hearted storytelling lacking depth and conviction

[adamonIMDb · 6/10 · 25 November 2018]

I'm always keen to learn about real-life crime stories and the Ariel Castro kidnappings particularly interested me. The 'Cleveland Abduction' TV film is certainly an interesting watch, though that is down almost entirely to the subject it is covering and not the actual merits of the film. At best, 'Cleveland Abduction' is a solid portrayal of kidnappings, but in reality it could have and probably should have been at lot better.

The film seems to cover the bare minimum of the story, covering all the main events but without going into any real detail and with very little character development. It all feels very half-hearted and even the events the film does cover are portrayed without any real conviction and are less than convincing.

'Cleveland Abduction' is a fascinating watch, but almost entirely because of the story. The film itself is average at best, covering the minimum but lacking in depth and conviction.

brutal true story

[SnoopyStyle · 7/10 · 6 July 2016]

It's 2002 Cleveland. Michelle Knight (Taryn Manning) is a struggling single mother. Her mother is unreliable. Social services is trying to take away her son. While walking to court to get him back, she is kidnapped by acquaintance Ariel Castro (Raymond Cruz). She is kept as a sex slave for 11 years during which he also kidnaps Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus. They finally escape in 2013.

It's a Lifetime movie. The brutal true story is told in a straight forward manner. Taryn Manning makes this more compelling than simply the material. The brutality is kept at a certain level since it's a Lifetime movie. It's a harrowing story. A couple of scenes after the rescue are actually quite heart-breaking.

Raymond Cruz is good but the story is mainly from one victim's POV

[phd_travel · 7/10 · 17 July 2015]

Raymond Cruz is a most effective actor. For those who watched 'Breaking Bad', Tuco Salamanca is one of the all time great TV villains thanks to Raymond's convincing intense performance. Here he is pretty scary as Ariel Castro. The real Ariel Castro looked more benign than him. Raymond is a bit too scary to be the wolf in sheep's clothing that Ariel was.

The story shows things from mainly one victim's point of view. Might have been better to show things from all three victims points of view. There was enough time to show how each was kidnapped and the background of each briefly so it's strange they didn't. In this sense the story could have been better written. The TV movie does not make it that clear how one of them couldn't run out while Ariel Castro was sleeping or something for such a long time.

Overall watch this for a TV version of the terrible crime.

I literally had tears in my eyes at the end of this movie

[Erik_Surewaard · 7/10 · 3 August 2022]

Well... do I need to say more... This movie is well structured and shows great acting from especially the two main characters.

I think this true crime movie deserves a 7.4 (almost 8 stars).

The story sickens me, but it needs to be told

[pigsrings · 9/10 · 16 April 2022]

I thought the story telling was great. For the people asking why the horrendous acts weren't portrayed- it's not a snuff film. For those asking why we couldn't see more from the other victims perspective nor why the neighbours didn't speak out- it's a film that has a time restriction to it. For those wanting more answers to the complex relationship of a capture who violently, cruelly and mental manipulates his victims (I'm one of these)- again it's a film with time restrictions that issue in itself would result in a film of at least 6 months long I'm sure.

This film sickened me and I almost stopped watching because of the content. But I rate the film highly because the story was portrayed well and showed a horrific story as well as any Hollywood film could, plus the actors were great.

Very Decent But Leaves You Wondering

[zorroaca · 6/10 · 18 December 2021]

Should have been a series... maybe then it could have covered the rest of the girls. Other questions like how did they arrest him... how is it that they were not able to escape during all those years. The acting was good but the character building was a bit lacking and the full story unclear.

Rubbish

[aldstewart · 2/10 · 29 July 2015]

From the start it was clear that this TV movie was based on Michelle Knight's story and not that of Amanda Berry & Gina Dejesus'.It felt like only half of the story was being told, and not even truthfully told (the tying up and hoisting of Michelle) There was no way the makers of this film could ever have portrayed the tense,traumatic, life threatening ordeal that spanned 10 years into a movie of around 113 minutes. It started quite promisingly but rapidly descended into a rushed, lazy account with mediocre acting and what I can only assume is artistic license, why else would they stray from the actual story written by the actual person abducted! I'm sure this will not be the only movie made about such a horrific and truly astonishing event, my only hope is that it is made with more depth, thought, accuracy,and better acting. Get a decent director on board, one who cares about the delicate subject at hand.

Emotionally haunting and eerily close to home

[quincytheodore · 7/10 · 11 August 2015]

Cleveland Abduction is very identical to case documentary or event reenactment, and it's highly effective. It doesn't present too much glossy cinematography to make it as authentic as possible, though still with enough restriction for the delicate subject. Acting from Taryn Manning and Raymond Cruz, the captor and captive, are brazenly intimidating to highlight the gruesome struggle.

It follows the event of actual kidnapping where a man, Ariel Castro (Raymond Cruz) abducts three women for eleven years. The movie depicts this horrendous act with superior acting and true to life visual. It occasionally looks devoid of color, grainy and dirty, while some of the outdoor scenery seems refreshing with cool ambiance. This presents the urban location in accurate perspective along with its darker shade.

Much of its better moments are from the good performance by the actors. It has surprisingly tender and sorrowful moments, all of which look genuine. This is not a well-orchestrated crime, yet it's incredibly shocking that the real person can maintain the act for so long. Raymond Cruz is a good cast for the role, he's often sickeningly brutal and easily becomes the fitting antagonist.

However, it does have some flaws. Several of the scenes try to depict the abuse, but they might feel heavy-handed in the approach. The camera is sometimes out of focus, it's probably intentional to induce realism, though it's a bit comfortable at times. The pace tends to screech a bit towards the second half despite the good intention of showing the aftermath or restrain for more gory moments. These don't take away the venerable effort to convey its message though.

Keeping the story grounded, it manages to tell the abusive story and its ramification with equal poise and intimate outlook.

Nice

[spieringsm · 7/10 · 30 November 2015]

I true story that has to. Be told so the victims can live on. I like the movie even its a horrible story. And I'm glad the women are saved en can live there life's even it most be hard for them. I hope the are happy now with there lives as good as it gets. And i also hope the men who did this will never leave jail. Somebody like him does not deserve the live his life ever in freedom he's a animal no worser than a animal. It was a difficult movie to watch but i am glad i did. I saw one of the women by the Doctor phill show i have real respect for this women that she told her story and still after all she come true have the power to go on with her life. Respect it most be hard.

Good psycho thriller!

[Guanche48 · 7/10 · 3 August 2022]

I liked the film, exciting, tense, strong and also very sad. The actors do a great job!!

The struggle of the mother above all is impressive, so many years kidnapped! It left me with a bad taste in my mouth because it is based on real events.

It also left me with many doubts, .. I think there are opportunities to escape, specifically two! But I don't want to say much more. They even have a pen in the room, a potential weapon... but that's my doubt, I don't know what I would do if something like this happened to me. But the IF is there in my head, can't help it.

What hurt me the most is the fact that no one has done enough to save them, the passivity of the police is incredible!! Also from the neighbours, very painful to watch.

A must see if you like psychologically strong and tense movies.

Close to home.

[d_penn · 7/10 · 5 October 2022]

I am a fan of watching and reading true crime stories. I mostly love when it depicts the strength of the victims. This movie has the warning that it may be too disturbing for some. I think it's one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. The reason for that is not only the story, but the production, direction, and acting. Taryn Manning was amazing and so believable . Also, Raymond Cruz( whom I absolutely loved in The Closer ) was the reason it initially caught my eye. He deserves an Academy Award for his depiction of Ariel. I watched this movie and couldnt stop thinking about it. It brought so many tears to my heart and just watching it was wow.

Profound.

[luke-723-995001 · 9/10 · 4 May 2019]

I knew nothing of the case before watching this movie so I found the events beyond shocking. I was gripped all the away through. I found the storytelling suspenseful and I believed the performances. The faith of the lead character was deeply inspiring and I was left feeling equally moved as I was haunted. There were some particularly difficult scenes to reconstruct in this movie and I felt the filmmakers did a brilliant job in tackling such a challenging and sensitive set of circumstances. I would recommend this as a must watch.

My Review

[wrightiswright · 5/10 · 19 June 2019]

Films like this are why I never take too seriously the reviews on Amazon for movies, when something as mediocre as this can get an average of four and a half stars.

Basically, it's a retelling of the real life incident in America where three young females where kidnapped and held in a man's house for close to a decade, even raising a daughter together when one of the abused captives fell pregnant with his baby.

Despite all the elements being present for a riveting 'Based On A True Story' drama, you don't really get much of a passage of time here, nor due you really see any explicit scenes of the awful torture the girls must have gone through.

Basically, Cleveland Abduction is too fast-paced for us to develop an emotional connection with the victims, and too censored in it's approach to highlighting their horrendous treatment whilst imprisoned.

The actors play their parts well and from what I understand, the screenplay sticks mostly to the facts, but ultimately I can't help but feel a far more comprehensive mini-series was the way to go to document this modern tragedy.

Maybe we'll get one in the future, that'll tell us a lot more. I wait in hope... 5/10

Sickening, Heartbreaking, Hopeful

[butterflyJenna · 7/10 · 11 February 2023]

I almost stopped watching this movie because I didn't know how I'd feel about Taryn Manning in this type of roll. But what I came to find was the inability to turn it off for the sake of feeling like it was my feminine duty to watch this movie, listen to the story, and reflect on the very real foundations where this movie came from.

In the end Taryn Manning did a phenomenal job at being a strong victim. What truly broke my heart was her almost attempted suicide scene, but she couldn't do it because Joey would need her. For years Taryn's character Michelle fought with hope, helping and protecting the girls who came after. She was the pillar of this story and what really effected me was when Michelle seemed hopeless for the first time and Gina was the one who had to make some hope for them to survive.

Ariel Castro was depicted by Raymond Cruz, who I can't imagine had an easy time being in this role, the abuse given and absolutely disgusting behaviour he had to act out was sickening to watch but yet was filmed in a respectful and tasteful manner.

Movies of this nature have a very unfortunate possibility of re-traumatizing victims from watching it when directors take certain scenes to far without thinking about the ramifications, but this movie walked along the edge steady and safely.

In the end because this movie is based on a very true story I cannot remove a star I wanted to from the way religion was played in this movie. To me I could not and do not love a God that has the capacity to allow these events to happen, but alas this wasn't my story and for that I will leave this at 7 stars.

This isn't a movie I will ever rewatch but it was one I will never forget.

Well done movie

[mkaykrempel · 1/10 · 3 May 2019]

I raised a family just outside Cleveland. No store or restraunt here took down the fliers until the women were rescued. I lasted 10 minutes with this movie, it totally sickened me and made me cry. NO one who does such a horrible things should achieve celebrity status! Remember the names Michelle, Amanda, and Gina! As for the criminal, his name should be FORGOTTEN!

Outstanding

[melissamcdaid · 9/10 · 6 September 2015]

Taryn Manning plays a tremendous part in this true story. While I understand many viewers frustration at the focus being mostly on Michelle's character, I believe that it is important to remember that the film is based mostly on Michelle's book which helped steer the story in that direction. Although difficult to watch at times due to the implied brutality, I was unable to take my eyes from the screen the entire movie. Depicts the story of these 3 young girls (and not forgetting the daughter) excellently while allowing an understanding as to why the girls were never able to escape. This would have been an 8 star review if not for the performance of Taryn Manning, which bumps it up to 9 stars.

Making the story look like a joke

[fsociety00dat · 2/10 · 13 January 2021]

I don't know how is it even possible to take such a serious real life event and make it look like a joke. This was one of the worst acting I have ever seen. To the point that makes me wonder how Taryn Manning makes money as actress. They censored or simple didn't show the brutality of what actually happened. The movie was way rushed and spent way to much time getting into important things and spends way too little time there. If you are not willing to make a dark movie don't choose a dark theme. If you are interesting in the story just go and watch a documentary about it there are plenty and they are way better. Don't watch this.

This is hands-down THE WORST movie I have ever seen!!

[rknaak1 · 1/10 · 8 May 2015]

This is hands-down THE WORST movie I have ever seen!! Everything about it is awful! The acting, the dialog, the storyline.... It is a large span of real-life time and tragedy jammed into a 90 minute made-for-TV movie, and all it leaves you with are questions, confusion, and wonder as to how anyone could think that this 90 minute run-of-events could be classified as a "story" and made into a movie. I realize that it is all based on true events, however the way the chosen events were written and portrayed in this movie do not compound together to make a storyline. It is a bunch of factual events thrown together and filmed. And very poorly done at that.

I was a mess at the end

[daviesjude · 10/10 · 21 January 2023]

Yes I agree that it should of been made into a series, so we get a full picture from the other two girls Gina and Amanda of what happened to them, what upset me the most was I read that Gina and Amanda do not talk to Michelle, I understand that Ariel played mind games with them that the film didn't really show but you would think that after being rescued all three woman would come together against Ariel and support each other no matter what and show Ariel that his mind games did not work, I really felt for Michelle she had no one that looked for her and the other 2 just forgot her after the rescue.

Great potential. Low production values

[egjmorris · 4/10 · 20 April 2022]

Had the potential to be a really gritty terrifying abduction fictional reenactment. Poor acting crappy production values made it a real let down to watch. Would not watch again.

Cleveland Abduction

[a_baron · 10/10 · 23 July 2016]

Once upon a time there was a wicked ogre named Ariel Castro who snatched three girls off the street and held them captive in secret in a residential area for over a decade. Imagine if that story had come down to us from ancient Greece, or even a much more recent era.

Okay, let's try another approach, imagine this was a novel or a film script, would it get past the slush pile or anywhere near a studio? Of course not. Sadly, this well-documented tale of sexual sadism and just plain sadism is not only more outrageous than any such legendary or fictional offering, it is 100% true. "Cleveland Abduction" has been given a semi-documentary format, seen mostly through the eyes of Michelle Knight, Castro's first victim, and the one who suffered most.

We follow the tale from Michelle's abduction as far as her victim impact statement at his trial. Sadly or otherwise, Castro avoided a living hell by committing suicide a mere month into his life sentence. Doubtless he will have gone to the real one where he will occupy a place or torment only slightly less hot than Ted Bundy.

This film is well acted by all the players. How could he have got away with it for so long? We can all ask that question, but wisdom is hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Atrocious

[craigunderwood-85600 · 1/10 · 30 April 2022]

It would have probably got a lower score if I could have made it to the end. Ignore the positive reviews on this one if you value your time. As stated, the movie is just about as B grade as you can get, being based on a true story can't save it.

Graphic, scary, well told true life story.

[karenblade · 9/10 · 21 April 2022]

Wow, I nearly turned it off as it really scared me. Gritty true story. Well acted. It's certainly a true life horror story. The topic is scarier than any horror film. Very graphic.