Taken was one of the first movies to bring widespread attention to the horrors of human trafficking. While we do not doubt that it accurately portrays a father’s love and his will to do anything necessary for his daughter, we can confirm that Taken as a whole does not portray an accurate representation of human trafficking.
What did catch our eye was what Taken did correctly. The movie does take a peek into the intricacies of international human trafficking, such as persuasion by a supposedly kind, international man who offers help. However, the movie fails to showcase some of the true horrors of human trafficking and also only shows one of the many ways children can be abducted. In fact, a sudden kidnapping from a complete stranger is only 24% likely to happen.
It then leaves the question, what to do if you want to learn about the true horrors of the human and sex trafficking trade or domestic violence for awareness? We have compiled a list of movies below, including where to watch them, their rating on sites such as Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb, and our rating with a short description of the movie. Please be warned all movies on this list contain an explicit warning due to their content. We also highly recommend not watching more than one of these recommended movies in a day (or even a week) due to their highly disturbing nature.
It’s about time we shed the light on these horrors. Learn how you can help by clicking the links associated with each film.
It Ends With Us
Watch On: Netflix, Amazon Prime
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 56%
IMDb Rating: 6.5/10
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Year Created: 2024
Main Topic: Domestic Violence
How You Can Help the Cause: https://fjcfoundationidaho.org/
Lily Bloom is a florist in Boston when she stumbles upon the man of her dreams; a neurosurgeon named Ryle. Suddenly, the reappearance of a former boyfriend stirs their relationship for the worse and Lily has to make a choice that no woman should ever make. This film is praised for its realistic depiction of Domestic Violence and how difficult it can be to leave yet how necessary it is for not just you but your future generations as well. Keep an eye out for the book rating in our future Liberty Library blog post!
Sound of Freedom
Watch On: Amazon Prime
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 57%
IMDb Rating: 7.6/10
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Year Created: 2023
Main Topic: Sex Trafficking, Human Trafficking
How You Can Help the Cause: https://ourrescue.org/education/prevention-awareness/sound-of-freedom
The story behind the Operation Underground Railroad (now OUR Rescue) founder Tim Ballard, this movie is based on true events that happened to Tim as he left his work for the United States government and multi million pension and moved toward rescuing women and children who are forced or coerced into sex trafficking. This movie sent shock waves across the nation which is why it is a top recommended introductory movie for learning about sex trafficking. We rated this movie 5 out of 5 stars as it introduced a call to action element as well as a level of hope we can all connect with.
Trade
Watch On: Tubi, Amazon Prime, Apple TV
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 33%
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Our Rating: ⅘ stars
Year Created: 2007
Main Topic: Human Trafficking
How You Can Help the Cause: https://damselcatalog.com/products/damsel-house-contribution?_pos=1&_psq=damsel+house&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Trade follows the story of two specific girls, one young thirteen year old Mexican girl named Adrianna and a young Ukranian woman who have both been taken and forced into the Russian sex trade. We follow Adrianna’s brother, Jorge, as he stumbles over the border to try and locate her before it is too late and she is never seen again. He enlists the help of a law enforcement officer who could not stop looking for his daughter who was also sold ten years prior. This movie is mainly in Spanish with subtitles provided.
Nefarious: Merchant of Souls
Watch On: YouTube, Apple TV
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: n/a
IMDb Rating: 7.3/10
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Year Created: 2011
Main Topic: Sex Trafficking, Human Trafficking
How You Can Help the Cause: https://exoduscry.com/
Packed full of real life testimonials, including former traffickers themselves, this documentary sheds a new perspective on trafficking in three separate areas. The first being a country in Eastern Europe that has the highest population of trafficked individuals and the second being in Asia where the narrator deep dives into the reason why parents choose to sell their children. The last is in our own backyard that showcases the psychological warfare that can happen with prostitutes who get into the industry for the glitz and glam but quickly realize it is a prison.
Sold
Watch On: Peacock, Tubi, Amazon Prime
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 56%
IMDb Rating: 6.8/10
Our Rating: 4/5 stars
Year Created: 2014
Main Topic: Human Trafficking
How You Can Help the Cause: Damsel House Contributon https://damselcatalog.com/products/damsel-house-contribution?_pos=1&_psq=damsel+house&_ss=e&_v=1.0
Sold follows one young girl’s story as she is unknowingly sold into the sex trafficking ring that haunts India. Originally from Nepal, the girl’s father sells her with the promise of a better life but she soon discovers that mangos and toe rings are not the only things the city holds. This movie holds nothing back and shows it all – from the bond that the girls experience in the brothels to the reality of what happens when girls do not comply.
Believe Me: The Abduction of Lisa McVey
Watch On: Hulu, Amazon Prime
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 83%
IMDb Rating: 7.2/10
Our Rating: 5/5 stars
Year Created: 2018
Main Topic: Abduction
How You Can Help the Cause: https://fjcfoundationidaho.org/
Mentioned as a must-see film in one of our Safety Sessions, this film is based on the true abduction of a young girl named Lisa McVey who was plotting to commit suicide due to being abused in her home life. On her way home one night around 2am, she was suddenly kidnapped off her bike and taken by a notorious serial killer to which she was able to escape thanks to reverse psychology. Praised for the strategic thought process Lisa had to help her escape, this hard-to-watch film is an absolute must watch.
To learn about our brand new Safety Sessions, reach out to your local Damsel Safety Educator here!
