This drama is apparently based on true events and I have no idea how accurate is the depiction in the film. But that said this movie is both compelling and heart wrenching.A young woman is kidnapped by a lunatic and kept prisoner and tortured as are other young females. The brutal treatment of the victims is appalling. Both lead players give first rate performances as do the other performers though there are times in this picture I needed to look away due to the horrid nature of events.Sometimes I really feel ashamed that men can be so wicked to females..Despite the sordid content in this movie, its' realism gains it a vote of:8/10.

Alex Kalyminios directs this story written by Stephen Tolkin of the true-life account of a Cleveland single mother Michelle Knight(Taryn Manning)and her 11-year imprisonment in the home of Ariel Castro(Raymond Cruz). Castro, psychotic and sadistic, damaged himself as a child, was compelled to take out his aggression. The school bus driver kidnapped Michelle as she was trying to go to court to get her three year old son back from social services.Being a made for TV movie for the Lifetime Channel, this film could have been more gruesome and disturbing than it is. Michelle would become impregnated by Castro and forced into miscarriage. Two other women would be kidnapped and held captive. Amanda Berry(Samantha Doke)and Gina DeJesus(Katie Sarife)were also physically, mentally and sexually abused by their monster captor. The three women helped each other survive. Michelle would be forced to help deliver a child birthed by Amanda.Miss Knight found strength in thoughts of her son, her ability to write poetry and her singular faith in God. The woman plotted ways to escape and physically tried making their bodies stronger. But it was a fluke that Ariel, usually so self-assured, carelessly left the front door of his home unlocked. Amanda managed to get the attention of neighbors that led to a miraculous rescue and arrest of Castro.Also in the cast: Pam Grier, Joe Morton and Grace Ransom.

Raymond Cruz is a most effective actor. For those who watched 'Breaking Bad', Tuco Salamanca is one of the all time great TV villains thanks to Raymond's convincing intense performance. Here he is pretty scary as Ariel Castro. The real Ariel Castro looked more benign than him. Raymond is a bit too scary to be the wolf in sheep's clothing that Ariel was.The story shows things from mainly one victim's point of view. Might have been better to show things from all three victims points of view. There was enough time to show how each was kidnapped and the background of each briefly so it's strange they didn't. In this sense the story could have been better written. The TV movie does not make it that clear how one of them couldn't run out while Ariel Castro was sleeping or something for such a long time.Overall watch this for a TV version of the terrible crime.

I started off watching this movie knowing little to nothing about this horrific, true event. While watching it I was searching the internet looking up facts, videos, etc and was shocked I didn't know more. I think the movie, for lifetime and NOT HBO or cable did this story justice. To me, it was interesting enough that I went beyond and bought the books, looked up the videos and read all the articles.Tara Manning is the main actress, the review I read earlier on this is way off in saying she can't act. She was chosen because of her supreme acting in the recent "orange is the new black" netflix show. I thought she did a good job. It's pretty impossible to find actress's that look and talk like normal everyday women. After watching all the footage, all three girls did a great job, I feel.Also these women lived through horrific crimes that no one should ever have to endure. If you want the real story, of course read their books. If you want 90 minutes of entertainment then watch this movie. I don't think any Lifetime movie claims to be scene by scene the actual real life story. The scenes with the bar bell, killing the dog, rape etc. were hard enough to watch, how much did you really want to see (this is for the review on here claiming it's not "real" enough)? This movie brought to light a horrible situation in 90 minutes of what these girls dealt with for 10 YEARS! That's a pretty impossible feat for any movie, let alone Lifetime. So, I say watch this movie with your hand over your eyes on some parts and then read their books, to get the full story.These women are brave and amazing and more people should know about them.