Movie · 2026 · Documentary, Crime · 1h 31m · R · English
Curator score: 4.7/10 (27.4K ratings)
Overview
Elizabeth Smart's harrowing abduction at 14 from her family's Utah home unfolds through her own words and never-before-seen material in this documentary.
Ratings
Curator score: 4.7/10
IMDb: 6.7/10
Letterboxd: 3.30/5
Rotten Tomatoes: 100%
TMDB: 7.1/10
Director
Benedict Sanderson
Production
Minnow Films
Cast
Elizabeth Smart, Steevan Glover, John Stableforth, Brian David Mitchell, Wanda Barzee, Soledad O'Brien, Katie Couric
Where to watch
Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Curator Review
Verdict
A harrowing, survivor-centered true-crime documentary that benefits from Elizabeth Smart’s own perspective and a clear focus on the aftermath rather than sensationalism. It should resonate most with viewers who want a serious, emotionally direct account of a notorious case and are comfortable with difficult subject matter.
Best for
true-crime viewers who prefer survivor testimony over reenactment-heavy storytelling
audiences interested in the failures of police and institutions
viewers drawn to documentaries about trauma, faith, and recovery
people looking for a case study in media, public perception, and victim advocacy
Skip if
you want lighter or more procedural true-crime entertainment
you are sensitive to abduction, sexual violence, or trauma narratives
you prefer documentaries that stay at a strict investigative distance
you have already seen and do not want another deep dive into this case
Overview
This documentary appears to be strongest when it lets Elizabeth Smart tell her own story. That choice matters: it shifts the film away from lurid true-crime packaging and toward a survivor-led account of fear, survival, and the long shadow of public scrutiny.
Worth noting
The Letterboxd response suggests the film lands as both infuriating and cathartic, especially in its depiction of institutional failure and the way faith, community, and policing shaped the case. The emotional center is not the kidnapper, but the family and the victim’s perspective, which gives the film a more respectful and urgent tone.
Bottom line
It is not an easy watch, and it is not meant to be. But for viewers who want a sober, empathetic documentary about a widely known case, it looks like a worthwhile entry that prioritizes the person at the center of the story over true-crime spectacle.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Angelina (3.5★) · 1058 likes
Funny how ALL the so called "prophets" of God "must" have many children wives.
🕷️JohnWick🕸️ (5★) · 1043 likes
why tf was that woman released in 2018??? she deserves life sentence too tf
leea (3.5★) · 969 likes
they had one witness and you're not going to believe her when she gives you evidence? and just when you think police couldn't get any more incompetent
⋆⭒˚.⋆ rezwana ⋆˙⟡ (3★) · 762 likes
Utah mormonism somehow always at the scene of the crime
rosy ✧˖° (3.5★) · 690 likes
i am glad this docu comes from the families pov and focuses on elizabeth far more than it does on the perpetrator who deserves as little screen time as possible
2012 · Documentary, War, Crime · 1h 33m · NR · Curator 7.7/10 (11.7K ratings) · Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video, Philo, FlixFling, Amazon Prime Video with Ads
A survivor-led documentary about abuse and systemic failure within a powerful institution.