Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert
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Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert is a documentary about the 1996 kidnapping and murder of a 9-year-old girl from Arlington, Texas. Nothing violent is shown, but there's a lot of dread and suspense. Forensic drawings of the victim's body show locations of injuries on her body, including a description of her slit throat and speculation that slitting her throat may have provided the perpetrator with "sexual release." Mention of child molestation and a possible sexual aspect to the crime. Past physical abuse is mentioned. Parent-child separation and grief are strong themes. Mention of frequently drinking alcohol to excess in the past. Some statistics are provided about child abductions and how many children Amber alerts have saved. A hotline for information about the crime is provided at the end.
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What's the Story?
AMBER: THE GIRL BEHIND THE ALERT tells the true story of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped and murdered in January 1996. She and her younger brother went out riding bikes around their neighborhood one afternoon. Her brother came home, but Amber never did. Almost immediately, an intense search and investigation got underway that brought the entire community together. Sadly, Amber's body was discovered several days later just a few miles from where she was taken. But her legacy lives on in the now-nationwide system of alerts that Amber's mother Donna, and many others, worked tirelessly to create in hopes of saving other children from Amber's fate.
Is It Any Good?
This is a moving documentary that combines elements of true crime and police procedurals with the chance to get to know Amber, her family, and all they have endured since she was taken. Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert takes advantage of professional video footage taken in the months before her disappearance to help viewers get to know her and her family. Tension and suspense are at a high level throughout. Interviews with law enforcement officials, some of whom worked the case for many years, add to the sense of drama and frustration at the lack of resolution. Documenting the creation of the Amber alert system, too, brings a hopeful note to the end.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violent themes in Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert. Is this movie trying to teach us something, or is it sensationalizing a tragedy? How is the information presented?
It's easy to get scared for yourself and loved ones after learning about real-life events like in this movie. What do you and your loved ones do to feel safe?
Did you know much about Amber alerts before you saw this movie? Have you ever seen one? What happened?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: January 17, 2023
- Director: Elizabeth Fisher
- Studio: Peacock
- Genre: Documentary
- Topics: Activism, History
- Character Strengths: Empathy, Perseverance
- Run time: 92 minutes
- MPAA rating: NR
- Last updated: January 19, 2023
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