Netflix viewers left 'uneasy' by trailer for 'scary' child abduction documentary

Netflix has unveiled a gripping trailer for an upcoming true crime documentary centred on an extraordinary child abduction that shook an entire nation. This release follows other compelling viewing such as Missing: Dead or Alive, My Father, The BTK Killer, and The Perfect Neighbor, reports the Mirror.

The new documentary, entitled Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart, examines the abduction of the American activist, who was just 14 years old when she was seized from her bedroom during the night in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Set to arrive in the new year, Netflix has offered a glimpse ahead of its debut, with police officers and family members discussing the American teenager's vanishing. Elizabeth resided in what was considered a "nice" area when she was taken, prompting the local community to rally together in search efforts.

One contributor in the preview states: "This case captivated the nation. There was a sense of, 'Is it the family? Could he be involved?'" Suspicion subsequently focused on Elizabeth's father, who emerged as a person of interest. In the footage, he emphatically refutes any connection, and it was subsequently confirmed that authorities had mistakenly implicated him.

As the preview continues, viewers learn that Elizabeth's younger sister, Mary Katherine Smart, then aged nine and sharing the bedroom, saw her sibling being taken. "I knew I'd heard the voice, I just couldn't remember where I'd heard it from," Mary Katherine reveals to the cameras.

However, Mary Katherine eventually recognised the voice and believed she'd identified the kidnapper, a breakthrough that would prove crucial in advancing the investigation. The trailer concludes with a haunting close-up of Elizabeth's eyes as she declares: "I just wanted to tell them. I'm still alive."

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart recounts the chilling ordeal in her own words, weaving together archive footage with previously unseen material. The documentary provides an intimate look at the case and includes fresh exclusive interviews.

Elizabeth's abduction became one of America's most high-profile and extensively reported missing-person cases. In 2013, Elizabeth penned her memoir My Story, detailing her horrific experience.

In conversation with Netflix's Tudum, Elizabeth revealed: "After I was rescued, when I first got home, I did not want to talk about what happened with anyone."

She continued: "And when the trial finally happened, I remember sitting up on the stand, giving these answers, and feeling like there was no context around them. I remember thinking that if all of this was going to be out there anyway, I wanted it to have some meaning, and for it to serve a purpose. I wanted to have some ownership over my story. That helped me decide to share it."

Elizabeth went on to say: "There will be victims and survivors who watch this, and I hope they realize they're not alone, and that they don't have to be ashamed of what happened to them. And I hope that people who watch this can gain compassion and understanding for other families who are going through this."

She added: "I also hope it brings comfort that there are happy endings - and that even after terrible things happen, you can still have a wonderful life."

The YouTube trailer's comments section was flooded with viewers sharing their personal reactions to the case. One person reminisced: "I remember being a kid when this happened. it was so scary to hear about it."

Another shared: "A story that TRAUMATIZED me as a kid. I remember seeing it on the news and the movie make me so uneasy [sic]."

Another viewer confessed: "I have two daughters who are both close to the age Elizabeth was when she was abducted, it makes me scared to watch things like this but also makes me feel like I need to, to be realistic about the world we live in. I also (unknowingly) lived less than a mile away from Jaycee Duggard the entire time she was in captivity, when that news broke way back in 2009 it truly messed with me, and opened my eyes a lot more."

Kidnapped: Elizabeth Smart launches on Netflix on January 21, 2026