‘Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart’ (2026) Netflix Review - Gripping Documentary

This has to be one of the most well-made documentaries I have watched in a while. As the title suggests, the plot revolves around the kidnapping of a then fourteen-year-old Elizabeth Smart back in 2002 from her bedroom while her younger nine-year-old sister Mary Katherine saw her being abducted. The news spread like wildfire in Salt Lake City, a wealthy neighborhood in Utah. Police sprang into action, and the first suspect was taken to be her father since Mary Katharine claimed that the voice she heard from the kidnapper was one she had heard before. However, soon it became clear that her father had no role to play. Later, the suspicion shifted to her father’s brother Tom. A bit soon enough, he was cleared from that, too. One by one, the police examined the list of people who had visited the family. Soon enough, the doubt landed on Immanuel as Mary Katherine remembered him. While she was abducted, she was repeatedly molested by her captor, as has been described to her.

The story is disturbing and heart-wrenching. One feels bad for what Elizabeth and her family underwent for nine months before she was finally discovered.  Those nine months, we are shown archived clippings of her family and their desperate search for their eldest daughter. Mary Katherine comes forward and occasionally breaks down. As a nine-year-old, she might not have understood much, but today, as an adult, she knows what happened, and naturally, it isn’t something easy for her to live with. It was because of her that her sister could return home safely. The bravery of these sisters and the rest of the family is indomitable. Today, Elizabeth is an activist and courageous enough to come forward and narrate what can be one of the most harrowing incidents of her life.

Coming to the technicalities, the documentary is long. But that doesn’t mean that it is unnecessarily long. The makers have gone to great lengths to describe well and in depth what had happened in those nine months. From initial suspicions to advanced-level searches and what happened, once Elizabeth was discovered, everything is explained in great detail. Even interviews from news reporters who worked on covering this incident are shown to us to tell us the severity of the case. We get to see many clips from 2002, when this took place. All this helps us gauge well what truly happened.

The pacing is even. It goes at a constant pace, which gives us enough time to understand and grasp the information that is being shared with us. What truly matters in the documentary are the interviews of the people, as they act like testimonies. We get all of that. Any person remotely associated with the case, in whatever capacity, comes forward to share their side and experience.

There is also a sense of palpitation and suspense that the makers created. This keeps us on our toes as we don’t know what is going to happen next. Just like her family, we are taken on a journey to look for answers and search for a teenager who was abducted on a random night by a man for no apparent reason whatsoever.

The makers manage to capture our attention in the first few minutes when they show a small glimpse of today’s Elizabeth. That creates curiosity in our minds. It makes you think, “Oh my god, she returned." That means there is her side of the story as well. Before this, we see her family talking. And when she enters, that is when you know you have to watch the documentary till the end to find out what is about to happen.

So all in all, this is a great watch for those who love thrillers. It is a sharp and touching story. However, if you are someone who gets triggered by such content, which involves kidnapping and molestation, I would advise you against watching this.

Final Score- [9/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times