
Kidnap
Where to Watch Kidnap

Kidnap (Institutional) is a heart-pounding, relentless thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end. This 2017 film features a fierce and resolute woman, Karla Dyson, (Academy Award Winner Halle Berry), as a single mother whose life takes a nightmarish turn when her young son is kidnapped. Karla Dyson’s world is soon shattered when her son, Frankie, is unexpectedly abducted from a serene local park.
The narrative swiftly shifts gears into a high-stakes, heart-pounding chase as Karla pursues her son’s abductors in a desperate attempt to rescue him before it’s too late, driving the plot into a relentless manhunt. This isn’t just a story about a kidnapped child but a charged and emotional portrayal of a mother’s raw determination and fierce love.
The protagonist is emotionally engaging, and it's easy to root for Karla as she engages in a deadly game of cat and mouse with no time to seek help from law enforcement. From high-speed car chases to cunning evasive maneuvers, the movie’s action sequences are well-executed and realistic, ensuring that you’ll be on the edge of your seat, praying for Karla’s success in her dangerous race against time.
Quick-thinking and resolute, Karla is the epitome of a mother who will stop at nothing to save her child. Her display of courage, grit, and eventually, resourcefulness under such extreme pressure is inspiring, and it brings an emotional depth to the character that transcends the standard thriller genre. Halle Berry delivers a stellar performance, completely immersing herself in the character of Karla, to the point where audience members could feel her fear, desperation, and resolve.
However, Kidnap (Institutional) is not merely about relentless pursuit. It also offers a critique of the systemic and bureaucratic limitations that often hinder the swift resolution of abduction cases. This underlying commentary provides another dimension to the plotline, making this movie more than just another abduction thriller.
The film’s cinematography complements its intense plot. You are plunged right into the thick of the action, with every car crash, and every near-miss making you feel like you are in the middle of this frantic chase. The directing style is fast-paced and intense, mirroring the raw desperation and urgency of the situation.
Coming from director Luis Prieto and the production of Lorenzo di Bonaventura, who is also known for his work on the Transformers series, Kidnap (Institutional) overall is an adrenaline-inducing ride. Both Prieto and Bonaventura are well-versed in creating films that keep their audience in suspense but go beyond simple thrill and engage emotionally. Packaged in 95 minutes of nerve-wracking extremities, and exploring the unconditional love between a mother and her child, the film presents a realistically horrifying scenario that will resonate with parents and movie enthusiasts alike.
The film is a testament to the power of a mothers' love and them doing whatever it takes to keep their child safe, thus also serving as inspiration and infusing the spirits of bravery and relentless love into the hearts of the viewers. The determination and single-minded pursuit of such sentiment beautifully portrayed in Kidnap (Institutional) is sure to captivate its viewers.
In conclusion, Kidnap (Institutional) is a fast-paced, nail-biting ride that hooks the audience immediately with its gut-wrenching premise and relentless action. It’s an interesting addition to the action-thriller genre, with strong performances and a poignant message about parental love and determination. While it’s undeniably steeped in suspense and fraught with tension, it’s also a movie that talks on a more personal level, pulling at the viewers' heartstrings. For aficionados of tight, suspenseful thrillers and for viewers who love a good action flick with strong emotional undercurrents, this film is set to deliver on all fronts.
Kidnap is a Art House & International movie released in 2014. It has a runtime of 11 min. Critics and viewers have rated it no reviews, with an IMDb score of 0.0..