jennlaurens-54147 Reviews

Abducted: The Mary Stauffer Story (2019 TV Movie)

D List acting and cardboard dialog

[3/10 · 3 October 2023]

Unfortunately there was no real care in telling this story - and there should be, there definitely could have been - the story lends itself to a profound telling. But this is terrible. Acting is cliche, dialog is...I can't even go there. I stopped watching half way through the first episode only to go online to read about the story to satisfy curiosity - the production value didn't hold me. I wonder why more care wasn't taken creatively to hire better talent? This woman and her child went through horrific events! And a child lost his life because he asked if the perp needed help! So much could have been explored and shown. This version was like watching it from the sky. Details were sparce and details are what bond the viewer to the character/victim.

A Friend of the Family (2022)

Fascinating and unbelieveable. But a necessary watch.

[7/10 · 11 January 2023]

I first watched "Abducted in Plain Sight" - which, still, remains the most disturbing portrayal of this incident out there whether in book form or live action. You can't beat the interviews with the family - just can't. Where this show seems to be created to straighten out some storytelling timelines ( and that IS important in this particular story ) and the acting is top notch, the mood and tone of the Netflix docudrama "Abducted in Plain Sight " better captures the ultimate tone of dark, disbelief that enshrouds this story - better than A Friend of the Family. This is a VERY dark story with long term ramifications for all involved and the Friend of the Family almost keeps the entire story in a too rosey light. This man took absession to a new reality for this family, and the music and editing and lack of showing his actual ( n ot literal - we don't need to see him raping an 11 year old ) intimate interactions with his victim is odd, especially since there was a very long, complete scene with Jan's father "assisting" Berchtold in a sexual "relief" act. I felt the poor father's anguish. We only glimpse Jan's anguish as outsiders because of this lack of "showing" vs "telling" which every storyteller knows is the #1 rule. Show, don't tell. Takeaway: If you want to really understand the complexities of this very unfortunate event in this family's life, watch both and read the book - between the three is better understanding of HOW this happened, WHY it happened and, as a parent/ grandparent/ relative - whatever - how to spot this kind of manipulation so you and yours aren't victims.