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Parents' Guide to

Kidnap

By Jeffrey Anderson, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Children in peril in tense, gripping Halle Berry thriller.

Movie R 2017 94 minutes
Kidnap Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 14+

Based on 18 parent reviews

JACOBJORDANB2002
JACOBJORDANB2002 Parent of 18+-year-old
March 6, 2023
age 18+

Emotional damage

Such a good movie every mother's and fathers worst nightmare

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Retromomma70
Retromomma70 Parent of 16-year-old
February 17, 2021
age 13+

Great film to teach to your kids about safety

Extremely intense! Very anxiety-inducing but an important message about keeping your kids close.
See all 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

In KIDNAP, single New Orleans mom Karla Dyson (Halle Berry) works hard to support her young son, Frankie (Sage Correa), but also loves to spend time with him at the park. When she's distracted by a phone call with bad news -- her ex-husband wants full custody -- Frankie disappears. Karla spots a woman shoving him in a car, and she immediately begins the chase. After many close calls and setbacks and quite a bit of destruction and mayhem on the road, Karla finds the kidnappers' house. Can she keep a cool head and be ready for whatever waits inside?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (18 ):
Kids say (16 ):

Despite having spent some time on the shelf, this thriller is far from a dud; it's surprisingly gripping, as well as relentlessly suspenseful, and it takes only a few not-too-bright shortcuts. Kidnap begins with a series of home movies, watching little Frankie grow up from babyhood, with the voice of his mama cooing at him. It's a simple device, but it conveys the depth of Karla's love and dedication to her son. Add that to the threat of losing custody, and we're off. Kidnap's fast pace and spare, streamlined approach recalls classic thrillers like The Fugitive and Speed.

Spanish director Luis Prieto brings several fresh angles to his chase movie -- edits timed to the beating of a heart, tilted angles, and close-ups crossed with wide-angle shots -- all in an attempt to keep the viewer's adrenaline spiked. The sound design is likewise clever and creative, deliberately holding back on pounding music and using sounds of the road (tires screeching, gravel crunching) to heighten tension. The backwoods-bumpkin bad guys played by Lew Temple and Chris McGinn are scary and nasty, and Berry proves her talent and star power by performing largely alone -- and extremely effectively.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Kidnap's violence. Is it thrilling or disturbing? How does seeing a child in peril change the feel of the violence? What's the impact of media violence on kids?

  • Why do you think Karla chooses not to trust the police? What would you have done in her place? Are her choices/actions justified by her situation?

  • Is Karla a role model, in spite of all the destruction her ordeal causes -- and the lack of consequences?

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