User reviews

This was entertaining and a quick hour and a half movie. Starts out with a little girl being kidnapped and Uber driver and passenger spot the car.. The story goes from there. I couldn't understand why there weren't more police or FBI involved so it was a little frustrating And unrealistic . It's not like the movie "kidnap" with Halle Berry. That was much more fast-paced With a lot of action throughout. Definitely check that one out. I'm not saying the movie wasn't watchable because I did enjoy it, but it was very exaggerated. None of this would've been handled the way the movie portrays so that was kind of annoying and frustrating.

Wait till it comes on rental for free and give it a shot Acting was pretty good and it was nice to see Hayden Pannettere . I always enjoyed her movies.

I watched the trailer just before watching the film. The trailer makes it look like a made for TV movie with bad acting and cheesy pacing. The film, however, is well paced and the acting is absolutely fine. It's obviously not a "Blockbuster" but it's definitely worth a watch.

The story itself is enough to question what you would do in the same set of circumstances and you do feel a hatred for the "bad-guy" (anyone who doesn't feel that should ask themselves some questions).

The chemistry between the two main characters was believable and the script was tight enough to allow the emotions to come out.

All in all, a good film!!

This was a title I decided to watch when I wanted something that was not too long and engrossing. I decided on this little movie and was not disappointed that I did.

First I will say the leads were both good and believable. I was enthralled with the story being as slight as it was but still made you want them to find the little girl.

And I must say that watching the lead actor was very easy on my eyes. Now I will have to start watching Abbott Elementary. All in all I would say if you have some time to spend and want something that is worth watching and easy on the eyes while also a somewhat nail biter, then I would suggest this title.

Just to further add the statement at the end of the movie, AMBER stands for America's Missing: Broadcast Emergency Response. The acronym was created as a legacy to 9- year-old Amber Hagerman, who was kidnapped while riding her bicycle in Arlington, Texas, and then brutally murdered.

Now I quite disagree with one reviewer who said the idea was great but the execution is awful. I thought the story line and the acting was quite well done. I have seen Hayden in a number of movies, but in this one she did very well playing the leading heroine role.

The story was a bit similar to.the 2017 Halle Berry movie Kidnap, where her son is kdinapped in broad daylight and quick thinking Berry jumps in her car and starts a hot pursuit of the kidnappers. That was also a pretty decent movie.

Anyway to cut a long story short I quite enjoyed this movie.

While somewhat predictable, this movie provides viewers with the familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. Jaq and Shane don't know each other, but share a light chemistry early on, and while it doesn't necessarily lean into romance, their bond proves strong and necessary for what the film becomes. I think I enjoyed them bonding together more than the progression of the film. Shane's character needed more development. And I feel like they just threw Jaq's backstory at us when it was convenient, but I'm fine with how it played out. The plot is fairly predictable, but in a way I didn't mind. Watch if you want a safe (pun intended), solid movie with actors you know and love (if you haven't grown to love Tyler James Williams from Everybody Hates Chris or Abbott Elementary, what are you doing?!!). Or if you don't know them at all, even better!

Amber Alert (2024) delivers a tense and suspenseful thriller that keeps you on edge for most of its runtime, but ultimately falls short of being a standout in the genre. The movie revolves around a child abduction case, using the titular "Amber Alert" as its central plot device, and blends elements of crime drama with psychological tension.

The film's greatest strength lies in its atmosphere. The pacing is relentless, with enough twists and turns to maintain engagement, especially in the first two acts. The direction does a commendable job of creating a sense of urgency and dread, with handheld camera work and dark, claustrophobic settings that enhance the mood.

Performances are solid across the board, especially from the lead detective, whose emotional conflict adds a human layer to the otherwise procedural narrative. The abductor is portrayed with chilling ambiguity, keeping the audience guessing about motives and identity until the final act.

However, where Amber Alert stumbles is in its third act. The resolution, while satisfying, feels rushed and a little predictable. Some of the emotional beats don't land as effectively as they could, and the supporting characters often feel underdeveloped, leaving you wanting more depth. Additionally, the film occasionally leans too heavily on familiar thriller tropes, making parts of the story feel formulaic.

Overall, Amber Alert is a well-crafted thriller that delivers enough tension and drama to be worth watching. It may not break new ground in the genre, but for its strong performances and atmospheric direction, this film should be on your watchlist, though it may not leave a lasting impression.

We have all heard plenty about paedophiles by now, but this film does a very good job in bringing the emotions and pain that mother figures experience from losing a child. The main character Jaq has a heartbreaking moment of her own which got me bawling my eyes out, just thinking about the loss she went through at one stage in her life. Hayden Panettiere does a great job of the lead role and it was nice to see her as a mature woman after last seeing her in the tv series "Heroes". The location choice for the perpetrator's residence had me feeling quite creeped out by its bizarreness, and I'm always in awe at the amount of good film locations that exist in America for this type of genre. Good Friday night movie. Enjoy.

Look it's not going to win any Oscars, but it's not as bad as some reviewers are making it out to be. The acting is not oscar worthy, but what are you expecting here? Saying that, the acting is not that bad either. There is enough tension and suspense to keep you hooked. Honestly I think this was quite good. I have seen A LOT worse out there.

At the beginning you think Hayden's character is a bit airheaded and selfish and I guess that was the intention. They don't overplay that the taxi driver is a bad dad. He's just trying to make it like every other person out there. Trying to do good by his kid. But at the same time trying to do good.

So yeah, the police could have done more. But they didn't stereotype it so that they did absolutely nothing or the opposite, overplayed it so it was way too unrealistic. If this movie nteaches us anything, its that far too often people do nothing when they really should. People don't want to get involved, but at the same time it's not trying to advocate that everyone should take the law into their own hands. It's trying to tell us that if you see something they is not right, trust your instincts. If it proves to be nothing, then at least you tried. But what if you ignored your instincts, what if you were one move away from saving someone. Think on that and stop judging every step like it has to be epic.

I know I really like a movie when I watch it by myself and then make my husband watch it with me later. We both really enjoyed it; the emotions that come from putting yourself in the position of the mother of the abducted child is a lot, and the suspense was really good. Thank god the acting was good too, Hayden Panettiere did an awesome job; Tyler James Williams and the woman that played the mom were great too.

It will definitely remind you of Halle Berry's movie "Kidnap" from 2017 and my husband and I decided to make it a double feature. Kidnap is far more intense with the suspense and a definite thriller, but both movies are great for this category. As a parent, these movies will rack your nerves.

The child is kidnapped in less than 20 seconds. A mom is partial witness too late. Two strangers on the cusp of being late for an important appointment separately. The guilt and pressure, a choice is made. An Amber Alert hits all phones. What would YOU do if there was a strong chance the kidnappers vehicle was near you?!?!

From this point on it gets intense. Is it the kidnapper? What is the driver's intentions?!? You find out more about the car in question and driver. Do you trust instinct? Do you risk your important appointment. Do you risk your safety and your life quite literally?

The two main characters Jaq & Shane are relatable and you learn a little more about them. Some aspects of the movie are obvious. Yet some things have you trying to figure out until the near end.

Although the movie is good. I'd say Halle Berry's 2017 Kidnap was more intense and somehow better.

The last 30 minutes of Amber Alert is disturbing. As you can piece together what has/will happened/happen and it's pretty unimaginable horrific.

Kerry Bellessa dares to redeem her 2012 film and does so with a more cautious, more meaningful approach and with two more relatable characters that transform this remake into a pleasant thriller that manages to have moments more in line with what was needed before.

The 2012 film brought us love and hate among viewers who enjoyed or had a bad time with the original version, this time its director is accompanied again by her screenwriter Joshua Oram to give the necessary touches and changes to that first script and as a result we have a much more welcoming film whose great strength is finding two considerably more approachable characters in the skin of two correct interpretations such as those of Hayden Panettiere and Tyler James Williams.

The on-screen chemistry of both actors allows us to connect and have sympathy for both characters, even more so when they are given really interesting motivations that make everything feel much more like belonging in the decisions they both make. The same happens with their supporting actors who are more present and interact more in the plot, which also allows the film to be carried out in a more intense way.

Of course, the film has its flaws in several decisions that are made, which make us feel that everything is done more correctly and without trying to shock anyone, a detail that also means that the villain of the film feels a little softer than in the original, and we must consider that the decisions of its final climax are somewhat lacking in energy, which takes away the impact of its outcome, although it has some new twists that make for a nice little mind game.

It is well directed, with a cast that is up to par and a story that works and is effective. It could have dared to be much more consistent, of course, but playing it safe is not a bad thing either, because the film is a good pastime that manages to have significant moments with which you will enjoy this thriller and its suspense in an acceptable way and without major distractions.

A clear message, an effective premise and a proposal that this new version fulfills goes up a notch from the original and that completes the redemption that its director sought, a mission accomplished without further gratification.

I liked it. The film is pretty much what you expect in sense of the story. It is not very complicated, direct to the point and no real surprises. It does have a pretty interesting twist in the middle. Well, not a twist since I'm sure most people figured it out, but it was well executed. It is an hour and a half casual watch with decent acting, suspense, and thrill.

What I really like is the camera work and the pacing, which is exceptionally well done and making the film extremely beautifully made and professional. So most noteworthy is the director, going to anticipate seeing other more ambitious work in the future.

6/10.

Amber Alert is a movie that stands out. The director mostly learned from her mistakes in her 2012 original film and provided viewers with a more realistic production.

The acting is spot on (in relation to the script and budget), the situations tense, the soundtrack on point and one of the best movies starring Hayden Panettiere as both actress and executive producer. She gave it all for Amber Alert.

A special kudos to the mom who performed way brighter than many "real" moms. Her emotional state and warm tears got to my throat.

• Screenplay/storyline/plots: 6.5
• Production value/impact: 7.5
• Development: 7
• Realism: 7
• Entertainment: 7
• Acting: 8
• Filming/photography/cinematography: 7.5
• VFX: 7
• Music/score/sound: 7
• Depth: 7.5
• Logic: 5.5
• Flow: 7.5
• Thriller: 6.5
• Ending: 7.5.

I got pulled into this aft watching the trailer on YouTube n the other reason being Hayden Panettiere. I only remember her from Scream 4 n she was pretty slim n illecebrous in that one.

She has put on weight since it's been 14 years.

Nevertheless I still like her.

The two things i can't stand in a movie is rape n child at peril.

This movie's subject is very tough, child abduction n I heaved a sigh of relief when the movie ended.

The two lead actors were very believable n they gave good performances. Also the woman who played the mother is terrific. As audience we can feel her trauma.

I read that this one is a remake of a 2012 found footage movie. Thank God, they skipped the found footage style. Can't stand shaky cam, flickering lights n found footage style like movies.

This was about the thousandth awful movie that someone greenlit to be produced that I have read reviews about and subsequently screamed at my phone at.

Hayden Panettiere was my favorite actress growing up, and it is really sad to see her doing something like this. I feel that she had so much potential. She sounds drugged out, like she probably is, and the entire production team should have noticed and intervened instead of exploiting her. But they wouldn't have, because this script was so bad that of course they didn't notice.

This is embarrassing. If you are looking for a WAY better movie about a similar premise, go watch "The Call" with Halle Barry. This wouldn't even make it onto Lifetime.

I really wanted to like this movie. I like the two main actors that they don't act very well in the show the rest of the cast I think they've all taken too much Ativan. They are all too laid-back. The mom of the missing kid was the only one that showed some emotion and that was over with in about a minute and a half. The premise is good: two total strangers, deciding to help save a kid, but it just falls apart because the acting is so bad. The police are portrayed as incompetent boobs. They wouldn't have been able to find a kid with the way they were handling this. It's OK for a movie to watch on a rainy cold December afternoon but I can't imagine why some people gave it a seven out of 10 stars..

This film could have been excellent if almost everything in it wasn't so poorly done. Only a few actors, along with decent cinematography and direction in some parts, manage to salvage it, and for that, they deserve thanks. However, the plot and direction are a complete disappointment. The film feels like it took the deliberate stupidity and nonsense from slasher movies and projected them onto the main characters and the world, which is out of place for this genre. The screenwriter gets a 2, the director a 5 for executing some moments well despite the terrible script. Some actors deserve an 8, though most of the cast function like mannequins who could have been replaced by Channing Tatum, and no one would have noticed. This film is a great study on "how to make a movie and fail." It's worth watching only out of desperation or for fans of experiencing discomfort from human stupidity. A true quintessence of mediocrity and foolishness, thinly veiled by the efforts of more talented team members.