Benutzerrezensionen

This is not an easy watch and might not be for everyone. It is a very well made, well paced series that tells quite the unbelievable-but sadly real- story. There's not much more to say or the risk it's to spoil it: my take on the bad reviews is that throughout the series you constantly want to switch it off, as frustration towards individuals or the "system" (church, law, police, hospital, etc.) mounts. This is no fairy tale, that doesn't mean it's not with watching, or that actors didn't play well. All protagonists were extremely believable in their roles, with that slight edge of surreality that actually adds up to the realism of the story.

Some reviewers can't understand how these ppl were so naive and why they handled things the way they did. This happened in a whole other time. There was no internet to learn from. The 6 p.m. News didn't teach about pedophiles. Ppl generally thought ppl were good and trusted those they went to church with. These ppl had no clue how to deal with this or what to do. Ppl didn't have social media to share their stories and teach others.

Children were more easy to manipulate back then than now.

I also don't understand the negative comments about Anna Paquin's acting. I thought she did a great job. She was portraying how many family oriented, religious women behaved back then.

I would highly recommend watching "Abducted in Plain Sight" on Netflix as a prequel to watching this. You will get a WAY better grasp of everything that happens with this story from start to finish. The fact that Jan Broberg herself introduced this show in the beginning tells me Peacock is asking for permission before telling any true life stories on screen too. BRAVO to everyone involved in this production. So far... I love Anna Paquin, Colin Hanks, Lio Tipton is outstanding and Jake Lacy as "B" is just as terrifying as I remember. I'm looking forward to McKenna Grace's performance. I know this happened in the 70's, but even today... this is a truly crazy story that I believe everyone needs to know about... to know what to look out for, and how to avoid it.

I first watched "Abducted in Plain Sight" - which, still, remains the most disturbing portrayal of this incident out there whether in book form or live action. You can't beat the interviews with the family - just can't. Where this show seems to be created to straighten out some storytelling timelines ( and that IS important in this particular story ) and the acting is top notch, the mood and tone of the Netflix docudrama "Abducted in Plain Sight " better captures the ultimate tone of dark, disbelief that enshrouds this story - better than A Friend of the Family. This is a VERY dark story with long term ramifications for all involved and the Friend of the Family almost keeps the entire story in a too rosey light. This man took absession to a new reality for this family, and the music and editing and lack of showing his actual ( n ot literal - we don't need to see him raping an 11 year old ) intimate interactions with his victim is odd, especially since there was a very long, complete scene with Jan's father "assisting" Berchtold in a sexual "relief" act. I felt the poor father's anguish. We only glimpse Jan's anguish as outsiders because of this lack of "showing" vs "telling" which every storyteller knows is the #1 rule. Show, don't tell. Takeaway: If you want to really understand the complexities of this very unfortunate event in this family's life, watch both and read the book - between the three is better understanding of HOW this happened, WHY it happened and, as a parent/ grandparent/ relative - whatever - how to spot this kind of manipulation so you and yours aren't victims.

I'm not sure if it's such a good idea to make shows like this because of the fact that it could spread ideas into sick peoples heads, but nonetheless, it's a great show with great level of acting that felt very real, and the events are perfectly unfolding in such a medium pace scenario The struggles of both families are real and the characters are extremely believable. I loved watching the show because it opens up your eyes to a lot of things that surrounds you whether it's in the neighborhood or the city or the country I just personally don't like any harm done to under aged kids and it's really painful to watch things like this that happened in real life.

A lot of unexpected and shocking events happen that were never expected.

Based on actual events, this Peacock original is excellent retelling the harrowing story of Jan Broberg, and her 2 childhood abductions by Robert Berchtold. The casting was very well done with Hendrix Yancey as Jan Broberg at 12 yrs old, Anna Paquin as Gail Broberg and Colin Hanks as Bob Broberg, Jan's parents, Lio Tipton as Gail Berchtold and Jake Lacy as Robert 'B' Berchtold. Honestly, it's only been 4 episodes but I am really enjoying how well it has played out so far, not shying away from the uglier parts of the story. Mckenna Grace's episodes have not even aired yet so I don't how other posters on here can critique her acting. Jake Lacy should be nominated for an Emmy portraying the seductive and manipulating 'B'. He has delivered a strong, believable, and cringeworthy performance. Unfortunately, pedophilia has always been timelessly present in our society and isn't going anywhere. Thanks to Jan Broberg and her family for allowing her account to be told and courageously shared from so many decades ago.

Unbelievable though it may be, even at my age, I was unfamiliar with this story.

The acting, storytelling, and writing is stellar. The way this series has captured the way "B" preyed upon, manipulated and groomed not only his own wife and victim, but the entire victim's family is absolutely riveting.

Having been a child in the 70s who grew up in a religious family, I can understand the naivety and trepidation of the victims. This is very well captured by the writers and actors.

Lastly, the actor who plays "B" gives an incredible performance of a psychologically damaged, manipulative, pervert, pedophile who gaslights everyone he encounters. Actually, all actors gave top notch performances.

Highly recommend.

This mini-series is a well executed telling of the events which befell an apparently good but very naive family in the mid-1970s. The whole story from beginning to end is as colorful as the Pacific Northest settings where it takes place. The acting in this well-casted production really gives the viewer a great picture of the pain and heartache experienced by the Brobergs and the inner struggle experienced by Jan throughout her entire brainwashing and manipulation. Jake Lacy resurrected the false charm and conniving abilities of Bob Berchtold while Colin Hanks showed us a picture of Bob Broberg and the personal pain of distraught father and conflicted husband.

The other cast such as McKenna Grace, Anna Pacquin, and Lio Tipton really complement the aforementioned actors making this a dramatic machine. The pacing does seem to drag at some points because B's mentioning of "the Mission" is like a broken record sometimes. This film serves as a cautionary tale regarding who you choose to trust and I think this story's telling is way overdue. The Broberg's gullibility is pathetic but the time and place and person has to be considered. This is happening at a time when pedophilia was hardly heard about and before kids were showing up on milk cartons. Also, a white family man in the Mormon community established trust rather easily with those in his church. If this was happening back then, it can easily happen again today.

I'm trying, I'm really trying to get through this series, but it's making me physically and emotionally ill.

I watched the documentary "Abducted in Plain Sight", so I was prepared for the content and it's mind boggling absurdity. However, it's just so difficult to watch, especially knowing it's based on true events.

Great actors, unfortunately they're playing absolute horrible and predatory characters. The esthetic of the era is done well.

The 1970's were a wild time. What sick and disgusting world we lived in and unfortunately are still living in. Being naive is no excuse to be so damn ignorant.

Watch in small doses!

Watching this made me angry ! Great acting by everyone but hard to watch without being very upset. I have trouble understanding this. I need to watch the documentary about this to get more information and see why a 14-year-old acted this way. I completely understand that an 11-year-old child can be manipulated and brainwashed, but a 14-year-old?!?! Talking , believing in any Z's and Z's? I can't understand it, unless her growing up and her hormones played a big role, but this series lacks that, We don't know what they really had in common and that's a big minus of this series ! The parents were naive, very stupid at first, but a 14-year-old in 1975, not 1875, should have some wisdom? We should learn a lesson from this about how easy is influence a teenager and how silly they could act . Mostly , how stupid it would be to let a 14-year-old child make important decisions in his life !

This story is really freaky and it makes me cross, which means the movie did its job causing an emotional reaction. The brainwashing and psychology involved is portrayed well, and is sickening, although not surprising given the storyline. So wrong and so icky, and that vanilla generation with secrets behind closed doors --it's obvious manipulation based upon control and lies that calm the masses to allow the unbelievable to happen. The actors are fabulous. The writing and directing are both spot on. Well done, well done and I think everyone should watch this...and let's hope as a society this layer of clouded belief subsides. I hope the victim(s) don't suffer repercussions for some of the truth revealed and I applaud the main victim for even allowing the story to be told. Hanks, Lacy, Yancey, Grace, Paquin, and Tipton alll give stellar performances.

It's an ok presentation of an unbelievable story. What I keep feeling though after seeing a documentary about the case is that this just doesn't add anything. It's telling the exact same information a 1 and a half hour documentary already told, only stretched into several episodes. No deep emotions, nothing really personal is coming through, it's like listening to someone in a monotonous voice read out an article. A long one. An interesting one for sure, but not enacted in any meaningful way. The case itself will evoke lots of emotions from a viewer, but that's strictly the story, not the series itself.

Aside from the fact this is a True story if this was fiction it would Still be shocking ..very in depth in gives you a interesting perspective on a story most of us haven't known I appreciate how well this was out together and easy to follow.. at times during this it was hard to believe some of these events occurred.

This is one of those shows Thts gonna have you remember plus also gives a you a look of how ppl views things in the 1970s .. the parents in this show start to make you mad but at times. Hard to believe they let this dude infiltrate they're whole family..this is highly recommended.

Wow, just wow. First I want to go on record for those who are tying "Mormons" members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints into the terrible mistakes and choices that the parents made as though it's why they were so naive and blind. The prosecuting attorney in the series said it best, "I'm a Mormon too, but I wouldn't let someone do this to my daughter and get away with it".

I was saying this to myself through every episode. I am a member of their faith. While we teach as Christ did, to love your neighbor and to be able to forgive, we also teach to be on guard from evil, even from those who claim to be part of our church.

Why? How do you not see how creepy this neighbor is? Why would you let do and say what he did to you and still let him be near you or your family? How couldn't you see how evil he is? Why parents, why? Just wow. It is a story that should be told to wake people up about groomers and sex offenders .

As the producers were sure to clarify, some of this story has been fictionalized for dramatic purposes and for the time constraints of condensing Jan Broberg and the rest of her families real life trauma in just nine (9) episodes. I thought the series was well presented by not glorifying the ugliness of a manipulative serial pedophile, but also not shying away either from the ugly truth and control this poor young girl (Jan Broberg) as well as her parents were subjected to by her sexual predator, Robert 'B' Berchtold played superbly by actor Jake Lacy.

The entire cast was believable even if the story line itself was hard to believe as true as the story really was. The set designers also did an excellent job capturing the mood of the 1970's with the home furnishings, and vehicles as well as the soft cultural music of the 1970s.

For those viewers who were not impressed with this TV mini series I suggest they have probably lived a sheltered life and do not know anyone who has experienced a sexual predator. Believe me the prisons are overflowing with sexual predators and just like this guy, Robert 'B' Berchtold, they are cunning enough to woo their victims in gradually like a spider's web does to a fly.

My children are adults now but I emphasized when they were young and playing multiple sports what adults could do and what they should never do. In the case of the serial pedophile Robert 'B' Berchtold, he not only conned the twelve (12) year old Jan Broberg, but he also seduced both of her parents.

The story was delivered not for its shock value but as a warning to others. Beware as there are many sexual predators out there always looking for new victims. I give the series a respectable 7 out of 10 IMDb rating and I will be adding it to my list of movies to purchase in the future.

How stupid were this parents?

Even if you're religious, even if you're in the 60s, even if you are frustrated in your marriage, their behavior in every second of this episodes just makes me anxious and frustrated.

The poor girl was living under the worst anxiety daily thinking that she was on a mission and was about to be visited by monsters from another planet. A lie created by that lunatic and criminal.

The main guilty person here is the kidnapper indeed. But for example, her mother was about to stay away from that family as the FBI asked and she was all the time wanting to hear the kidnapper's voice and wanted to have sex with him.

The show is well done cause it really shows how stupid this people was and makes you mad while watching.

The start of "A Friend of the Family" bewilders you with a premise that is stranger than fiction. If you are not previously familiar with the story, you would be confused with amazement that this happened in real life. However, once the shock wears off, the pacing gets a bit dull, and Anna Paquin hamming it up for the camera becomes too much. She is an Oscar winner; I do not know why she now has to contort her facial parts into weird angles. Nevertheless, there is decent acting in this series, particularly from Jake Lacey, Colin Hanks, and Hendrix Yancey as young Jan. Most of all, it is McKenna Grace that keeps me hooked waiting for her appearance starting in episode 5. She is so talented with a bright future, several accolades, and lead roles coming her way. As good as McKenna is though, she cannot save the show from the odd cadence and disjointed threads. Six episodes instead of nine would have been ideal. There is a nice sprinkle of authenticity throughout, thanks to the real survivor Jan Broberg who openly sanctions this show and even has a small acting part in it.

Some of the story is so unbelievable, like the parents never having heard of a pedophile before and the FBI agent claiming it was new to him as well. Even for the time period that's soooooo naive. More than idiotic, the parents are definitely not good it protective parents. For example allowing others to prevent them from reporting their daughter missing for so long. Especially back in the 70s the FBI took child kidnapping extremely serious and usually put everyone on the street to find the child. And the parents more concerned about what the kidnapper might think of them than concern for the safety of their child!

"A Friend of the Family" is a truly exceptional drama miniseries that delves into the chilling true events surrounding the Broberg family. This captivating story follows the actions of Robert Berchtold, brilliantly portrayed by Jake Lacy. Lacy's performance as Berchtold is nothing short of outstanding, capturing the unsettling charisma and manipulation of this serial child abductor.

The performances in this series were truly outstanding. Hendrix Yancey's portrayal of young Jan Broberg brought a sense of authenticity and depth to the character, and Mckenna Grace's takeover was seamless and impressive. Grace continues to demonstrate her remarkable talent, establishing herself as one of the most promising actors of her generation.

The story itself was engaging and emotionally resonant. I found myself deeply invested in the Broberg family's experiences, empathizing with their struggles and admiring their resilience. The series explored the psychological complexities with great sensitivity, leaving a lasting impact on me.

"A Friend of the Family" is a must-watch for its gripping storytelling and exceptional performances. It sheds light on a chapter in history that deserves attention, while also reminding us of the strength and love within families. This captivating journey left me moved and inspired, and I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a powerful and thought-provoking viewing experience.