Review of Taken in Broad Daylight

Clever and resourceful 17-year-old teenager Anne Sluti (a fine and appealing performance by the attractive Sara Canning) gets kidnapped by the unstable and dangerous Tony Zappa (well played with frightening intensity by James Van Der Beek). Anne uses her considerable smarts to manipulate her captor into keeping her alive throughout her harrowing six day ordeal. Director Gary Yates, working from a compact script by Charlene Blaine and Kim Delgado, relates the gripping story at a steady pace, wisely avoids lurid sensationalism, and grounds the narrative in a believable everyday world. Anne's bold game of wits with her captor creates a substantial amount of drama and tension (the climax with Anne and Tony holed up in a house surrounded by a SWAT team in particular is quite taut and suspenseful). The sound acting rates as another definite plus: Levar Burton as the compassionate Detective Mike Timbrook, Diana Reis and Tom Anniko as Anne's worried parents, Brian Edward Roach as Anne's equally concerned brother Tom, and Alexandra Castillo as determined FBI agent Reynolds. Brenton Spencer's crisp cinematography makes galvanizing use of a constantly moving camera. Jeff Toyne's spare moody score likewise does the trick. A worthwhile telefilm.