Netflix's latest true-crime documentary, 'Kidnapped: The Elizabeth Smart Story', revisits the 2002 abduction of 14-year-old Elizabeth Smart from her Salt Lake City bedroom. The film, running 90 minutes, covers the nine-month ordeal during which Smart was held captive and repeatedly raped by Brian David Mitchell, a homeless man who posed as a preacher.
The documentary includes footage of the extensive police search and the Smart family's Mormon community mobilising to find her. Elizabeth's father, Ed, recalls the emotional toll of press conferences and the frustration when police investigated the family as suspects. Her sister Mary Katherine, then nine, provided crucial details about the kidnapper's voice, leading to Mitchell's identification.
Now 38 and a child safety activist, Smart speaks candidly about the shame she felt due to her religious upbringing and the psychological impact of her captivity. She emphasises that the responsibility lies with her abuser, not the victim. 'The disavowal of shame is her main message,' the film notes, as she recounts Mitchell's threats and her daily struggle for survival.
The documentary also covers the trial, which took nearly a decade due to Mitchell's legal manoeuvres. Smart's frankness about her experience, including her first rape and the use of shackles, is described as 'truly inspiring' by critics, offering a powerful narrative of resilience and advocacy for survivors' rights.
