Another week on Netflix brings a new flick to the top of the charts, this one a thriller with some serious star power (Robert De Niro, Michelle Monaghan, and Adam Scott). Audiences are devouring The Whisper Man‘s dark and twisted journey, and I’m here to bring you some recommendations to keep that vibe going. Here are my top picks for kidnapping-themed movies that will shock and surprise.
The Whisper Man
Netflix watchers are in the mood for thrills this week, with The Whisper Man topping the charts both in the US and globally. When a young boy’s body is found, all clues point to the Whisper Man, a serial killer who preyed on children in the 1990s. When another boy is kidnapped, his father must reconnect with his own dad, the detective who originally caught the Whisper Man, to find him. It’s a solid suspense movie with some clever twists and good performances from its leads.
The Black Phone
Sticking with the themes of serial killers and abducted kids: 2021’s The Black Phone was a critical and commercial hit for its creepy atmosphere and solid performances. Mason Thames stars as teenage Finney Blake, who wakes up in a soundproof basement after being abducted by a killer known as The Grabber, who has been inactive since the 1970s. When a mysterious phone rings, Finney must decide whether it’s a helpful voice or the Grabber messing with his mind.
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Director: Scott Derrickson
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Stars: Mason Thames, Madeleine McGraw, Ethan Hawke
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Genre: Thriller
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Rating: R
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IMDb Rating: 6.98/10
Vanished Into the Night
As a parent, you believe you’d do anything to ensure the safety of your kids. In the Italian thriller Vanished Into the Night, a couple going through a divorce is confronted with an unthinkable situation when their children are kidnapped. Both parents are hiding their own secrets, and things get increasingly twisted as the husband gets roped into a dangerous drug run to pay off the ransom. It’s a very dark film that goes places you wouldn’t expect.
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Director: Renato De Maria
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Stars: Riccardo Scamarcio, Annabelle Wallis, Massimiliano Gallo
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Genre: Thriller
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Rating: TV-MA
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IMDb Rating: 5.3/10
Lou
For a different take on kidnapping and rescue, 2022’s Lou is worth a watch. Alison Janney plays a recluse living on a remote Washington island, driven to act when a neighbor girl is snatched by a mysterious hitchhiker. She teams up with the kid’s mother to track down the perpetrator and save the girl amid a raging storm.
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About Our Expert
K. Thor Jensen
Contributing Writer
Experience
K. Thor Jensen is a writer and cartoonist living in the Pacific Northwest. He has contributed to dozens of prestigious outlets, including PCMag, Tested, Clickhole, and Newsweek. His second graphic novel, Cloud Stories, was released in 2017.
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