Thriller Cult Classic

On her sweet sixteen, a teen girl is abducted into a seedy underworld—her sister and a cop won’t let her vanish.

KIDNAPPED

1987 · 1h 40m · R · Thriller · IMDB TMDB

Sisters Bonnie and Debbie visit San Diego on Debbie’s sixteenth birthday. After telling a sleazy pickup artist to take a hike, he follows them to the zoo and has Debbie kidnapped on behalf of his sleazy boss in order to shoot her full of dope and make her perform in porno films. Despite admonitions from the abductors, Bonnie teams up with detective Vince McCarthy, and together they try to infiltrate the porno industry in order to rescue Debbie.

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Quick Answer

What is Kidnapped about?

Kidnapped is a 1987 American thriller directed by Howard Avedis about a teenage girl abducted on her birthday for forced involvement in underground pornography, and her sister’s desperate attempt, aided by a detective, to rescue her.

Programmer's Pick

Kidnapped doesn’t flinch from its sordid subject matter, dragging viewers through the underbelly of San Diego’s criminal vice. Barbara Crampton adds guts to the genre template, and David Naughton brings a little rough-edged heroism to the procedural rescue mission. Not your typical birthday party fare.

— SassyFlix Programmer

Overview

Kidnapped launches with sisters Bonnie and Debbie venturing to San Diego for Debbie’s sixteenth birthday—a trip that takes a chilling turn. After rebuffing an unsavory pickup artist, the girls are stalked, leading to Debbie’s abduction at the zoo by a gang pushing her into heroin addiction and forced pornography. With the authorities slow to act, Bonnie refuses to back down and enlists the help of detective Vince McCarthy. Their pursuit draws them into the sordid world of illegal pornographers as they try to infiltrate and dismantle the operation from within. The film pitches personal resolve against organized depravity, keeping its focus on Bonnie’s determination and the grim realities she confronts.

Details & Specs

Director: Howard Avedis
Writer: Howard Avedis
Release: 1987
Runtime: 1h 40m
Language: English
Genres: Thriller

Cast & Crew

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Director: Howard Avedis Writer: Howard Avedis

David Naughton Vince McCarthy

Barbara Crampton Bonnie

Lance LeGault Victor Nardi

Chick Vennera Tony Leonard

Kim Evenson Debbie

Jimmie Walker Chester

Kin Shriner Buster MR Michelle Rossi Marsha Morgan

Robert Dryer Carl GW Gary Wood Frank Nardi

Charles Napier Lt. O'Bryan EB Etan Boritzer Monti Drew CC Cosie Costa Tony's Look-alike RG Roger Galloway Victor's Director VM Violet Manes Lady Jogger MP Michael Pappas Man Jogger JP Joe Portaro Coroner JP Jeff Prettyman Young Man

Angela Robinson Witherspoon Francine

Marlene Schmidt Secretary

Tonja Walker Claudia HW Heather Weber Young Daughter JW Jeramy Weber Young Son

John Witherspoon Pimp AT A.J. The Chimp Fuzz

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Independent Film Female Nudity Murder Female Topless Nudity Rape Police Female Star Appears Nude Shot To Death Kidnapping Shootout Fistfight Teenager Pistol Teenage Girl Revolver Shooting

Why Cult

Sleazy Underworld Stakes

The film’s plot thrusts an everyday birthday celebration into the dark heart of abduction and forced pornography, ratcheting up both risk and discomfort.

Female Protagonist Rescue

Bonnie fights back as an active, determined lead rather than a passive bystander, driving the attempt to save her sister through direct action.

Seedy 1980s Neo-Noir Atmosphere

Kidnapped sets its rescue mission amid drug dens, sleazy motels, and the criminal side of Southern California, giving the thriller a grimy, neon-lit vibe.

Genre Favorites Cast

With Barbara Crampton, David Naughton, and Lance LeGault involved, fans of B-movie thrillers will spot some familiar faces navigating the mayhem.