Girl in the Box (2016) User Reviews

This Ain't No 50 Shades of Gray

[gbkmmaurstad · 6/10 · 10 May 2018]

True story of Colleen Stan, age 20 who convinces her parents she'll be okay hitchhiking from Eugene, Oregon to northern California to surprise a friend on their 21st birthday. She hitches a ride with Cameron and Janice Hooker, only to be kidnapped by them and spends the next seven years of her life as their sex slave. As Janice tells her, "You're only here to take the pain."

This is a film reminds all of us, people are rarely what they seem and how the human mind, body, and spirit can survive in horrific conditions. The film contains violence (bondage) and very adult situations, but a must see if you or anyone you know still think hitching a ride is just as safe as any other type of transportation.

Incredible Acting. Unlike any LMN movie I've seen.

[Carriexoc · 6/10 · 10 March 2019]

Really enjoyed this biography not so much for the story but for the realism created by the actors and the director. I'm truly amazed. This LMN movie has really blown my mind all around.

one very important detail left out of the movie -possible spoiler alert!

[tslothrop · 29 August 2017]

I first saw this story on Dateline or 20/20, one of those shows, and it was the real life woman telling first hand what happened to her. I guess this could be a spoiler alert if you have no idea what this story is about, so SPOILER ALERT: she says that after she's picked up hitchhiking, the couple stop for gas and she goes into the restroom at the gas station and has a very strong voice in her head scream "jump out the window and run for your life" - she said she'd never had a voice yell in hear head like that and found it very strange and again the voice said "jump out the window and run for your life" and then a third time it screamed in her head.

She ignored the voice and got back in the car.

To me, this is a most important detail because she didn't listen to her intuition and/or whoever was trying to help her, possibly someone from beyond. I wish this would have been put in the movie because it would show how important it is to listen to those thoughts and feelings, to honor them, take them seriously.

In the movie, she goes into the bathroom, looks in the mirror, then looks out the window and returns to the car.

I'm not sure why they didn't include this most fascinating and important detail, but to me, it' a big part of the point of this story: when a voice screams in your head, three times, to run for your life: RUN!

I'm so glad she was finally freed and has gone on to live a good life.

Good for her!!

This sort of thing is going on right now across America, across the world

[Little_Tyke · 7/10 · 18 October 2018]

Why didn't she escape? After being held captive for some time, Hooker relaxed his total control somewhat and we see her outside in the garden hanging up laundry. That was an opportunity to run away. Several times Hooker left with his lunchbox to go to his job at the lumber yard. This presented another opportunity, as taking his lunch to work meant he'd be gone all day. Colleen could have been well clear by then.

But he brainwashed her. Somehow he made her believe that this "Company" was real. Even when he took her into the woods to help cut up some fallen trees to sell, he told her that two guys standing near a pickup truck were with the "Company" and naively she believed him.

This movie was certainly riveting and well-acted. The story, however, is utterly shocking. The law finally caught up with Hooker, who was sentenced to 104 years in prison. But America is such a vast place with not many inhabitants, relative to its size. Therefore, it must be dead easy for a psycho like Hooker to abduct someone and put them through hell. How does one stop them? Perhaps the main message from the movie is directed at young women NOT to go hitch-hiking on their own.

Unfortunately is based on a true story.

[curuense · 7/10 · 14 March 2019]

A shocking movie that shows the true store of a girl who was hitchhiking and was kidnapped by an unsuspected couple by several years. The girl was living in a box most of the time, humiliated all time and treated as a slave.

Good real story..!!

[kamalbeeee · 6/10 · 30 December 2020]

A girl was kidnapped by a couple and being held for 7 years...really its soo emotional and horror story becozz she was tortured by that guy..there is no twist and turns in this story.. One time watchable...

Don't get the hype

[misanthr0pist · 3/10 · 22 February 2021]

Zane Holtz nearly ruined this (already pretty bad) movie with close-to one of the worst performances I've seen in recent years. The rest of this movie was just painfully average, and had an awful random yellow tint to it.

The case of Colleen Stan is an incredibly heinous, and interesting story. Do yourself a favour and go watch a documentary, instead of wasting an hour and a half with this.

One of the most intense Lifetime true crime movies

[phd_travel · 9/10 · 18 November 2016]

This Lifetime movie is big screen feature film quality. I found it better than Room because the true story is so much more bizarre and horrible than any fictional account could be. It's better than the Lifetime Ariel Castro movie.

The story of Colleen Stan kidnapped raped and brainwashed for 7 years is truly horrific. Her confinement in the box is terrible but quite shocking is how brainwashed she was that she didn't escape given many opportunities. Her visit to her family is so unbelievable it has to be true.

The cast is excellent. Addison Timlin as Colleen is convincing and acts well. Her suffering is shown enough. Zane Holtz is good too as the crazy kidnapper. Zelda Williams daughter of Robin is equally convincing as the wife who has some warped religious rationale.

This movie is better than many big budget fictional thrillers.

Not your typical Lifetime movie - unpleasant, yet compelling

[mja58 · 7/10 · 2 March 2021]

It is hard to believe that this story was based on actual events - that said, it makes the story even more horrifying.

The ending was satisfying enough with Hooker getting 104 years, but I did not see his wife getting off with no time whatsoever.

I think at the end of the day it is a cautionary tale to beware of strangers!

A Contrived Movie with Bad Aftertaste

[doveed · 3/10 · 29 October 2018]

This movie was very easy to dislike. Contrived writing, predictable performances, and experimental to the point that it felt like the director didn't have a grasp on what he was doing. While this true story should be recognized, maybe making a feature film about it wasn't the best thing. I can actually appreciate a dark and depressing movie sometimes, but this just left me with a bad feeling. Girl is abused for 80 minutes and then set free - that's pretty much it. At the end, a title card states that what brought the girl through this experience was faith, yet we didn't see much faith throughout the movie. Some bad movies are worth the watch, but not this one. The only positive thing I can say is that the director didn't go overboard with the violence and grossness of the situation. Otherwise, there's not much to appreciate.

Very uosetting

[orangemen1503 · 8/10 · 30 September 2018]

I had heard of this case and when the movie was on today I decided to watch it. Biggest complaint is it was too short. Once Colleen escapes it would have been good if we saw the police take her abductor into custody. Instead we see her get on a bus and then some text about the resolution. It's hard to believe a woman of 20 years old believed what he told her about the "company" but after being beaten and tortured I guess your mind starts to do crazy things to you. This is a movie you should watch but it isn't a popcorn flick. The things that happen to Colleen are sickening and you will want to take a shower after seeing it.

Top Tier Lifetime Movie

[cameronjcannon · 6/10 · 11 April 2023]

Overall I enjoyed this movie; it kept me engaged throughout and stuck fairly close to the true narrative, but did have a lot of creative liberties take .

Along with that, I thought the acting was good in this film. Addison Timlin have a good performance as Coleen Stan, and made the movie believable and the performances by Zane Holts and Zelda Williams were decent, not great, but well enough to make for a decent movie. The production and film direction were above average for its class, and that trend continued through the movie.

This is one of the better movies that Lifetime has released, so if you're a LT fan, it's right up your alley.

True story

[amgee-89551 · 4/10 · 12 October 2018]

I can't believe this was an true story. I felt so sorry for Colleen. It's definitely one of the better Lifetime movie. The acting was really good especially Addison Timlin & Zelda Williams acting. It's such an interesting case. I totally recommend this film. 5/10

True story

[ashleyleigh-50362 · 28 February 2021]

This other person that reviewed the movie obviously doesn't know this is a true story, and the girl kidnapped was a16 old child. Having said that, I don't care about the movie, but until you're kidnapped in the 70's, kept in a goshdarn box and told lies about people watching you...shut the heckk up. She was a kid. This is a true story. It's devastating.

If you want to be depressed, watch this

[lololguys · 1/10 · 3 July 2022]

Movie was pointless torture porn. You sit through 90 minutes of a girl getting tortured and abused and literally nothing positive happens during this movie. At the end, when you are waiting for the guy to get arrested and locked up, as he does, all you get is a 5 second epilogue text and the guy sitting and crying pitifully in his room. Skip this one.

One of the most intense lifetime films

[alishaebrahimnegad · 9/10 · 27 December 2018]

This is one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen. It is absolutely compelling, gripping and emotional. This movie is very intense so if you are extremely sensitive (like me - this movie will haunt me for days) just be prepared. You'll feel a wave of emotions; anger, sadness, confoundment...and probably want to turn it off. I know I did.

I'm really conflicted as I believe a lot of people were after watching it because it was beautifully filmed and well acted by everyone throughout, especially Addison even though she doesn't say much and doesn't break out of what seems to be a constant state of shock and complacency maybe? I don't know but she really did an amazing job of not over acting and not under acting. I have great feelings about a film well done (acting, production, direction, cinematography, etc.) about an event so heartbreaking.

Hard to believe this is a true story

[LaverneandShirleysucks · 8/10 · 16 March 2022]

The girl was either incredibly brainwashed or just really stupid and i'm leaning towards the latter after seeing the clueless idiocy of her family. The apple sure didn't fall far in her family tree.

It's a very riveting movie, but I just couldn't relate or understand this girl at all and think she liked her box.

Surprisingly creepy film, beautifully filmed

[OJT · 10/10 · 3 June 2018]

This is a little hidden gem of a of a psycho killer movie, about a kidnapping that found place in 1977, of a young hitch hiking woman, picked up by an odd couple in rural California. The 20 year old woman is soon gagged and put in a wooden box and kept there for a long time, before being kept as a slave.

The film immediately gets your attention for being very beautifully filmed, and kept in sunny warm colors, asa contrast to the chilly story.

The film is also well acted, by the estranged couple, played by Zelda Williams and Zane Holtz, both doing a great job. The victim is played by Addison Timlin.

Well worth a watch!

***

[edwagreen · 8/10 · 17 September 2016]

A terrible, terrifying experience for a young girl or anyone to endure in this made for real life story of a young girl kidnapped and forced into bondage for 7 years by a couple whose emotional behavior is beyond description.

The film does point out that the girl did have the opportunity to escape but did not. She eventually seems to bond with the couple and in a way it reminded me of the Patty Hearst saga.

The movie is an emotionally disturbing nightmare beyond the realm of understanding of what this girl must have gone through during her seven year ordeal.

As soon as he let her see her parents, she should have spilled everything despite the threats he had made beforehand.

Really well done and sickening

[sarah_kay2007 · 8/10 · 15 October 2022]

I've followed and read this story and the movie captured it really well. Amazing acting and just an all round sickening story. I love true crime and thus is one of those stories that sticks with you. How she overcame this is beyond me and the Stockholm syndrome is real! Brain washing and absolute turmoil but a must see. My husband felt sick watching it and the disregard for human life. I love lifetime movies but this didn't even feel like one, it was extremely well filmed and captured the essence of the horrific story perfectly. Moral of the story please don't hitch hike!!! I have before in my 20's...never again.

A film to watch even if it sounds to over bearing

[thaokemp · 10/10 · 31 May 2017]

When I first came across this story I wanted to shut my ears as it was too dark and sad. However, I'm glad they have made the movie. Colleen Stanley is brave to speak up about her ordeal and the movie gives us an insight to her sufferings.

I recommend that one should watch it just to understand....

A really well narrated film. I didn't expect to feel the emotions but one can't help but feel the pains for Colleen.

Very strong TV movie

[Woodyanders · 8/10 · 20 June 2022]

1977. Sweet young lass Colleen Stan (a fine and appealing portrayal by Addison Timlin) gets abducted by monstrously abusive control freak Cameron Hooker (a supremely creepy performance by Zane Holtz) and his timid wife Janice (well played by Zelda Williams) while hitchhiking from Oregon to California. Cameron imprisons Colleen in a box in the basement and forces her to be his sex slave.

Writer/director Stephen Kemp relates the sordidly compelling story at a steady pace, maintains a grimly serious tone throughout, generates a good deal of claustrophobic tension, handles the seamy premise with admirable taste and restraint, and offers an intelligent and interesting exploration on the themes of faith and perverting religion. Moreover, the kinky bondage angle gives this TV movie a surprisingly potent and twisted extra punch. Worth a watch.