Abducted by My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story

I'll start out by giving this Lifetime movie a small pat on the back - it doesn't feel exploitative like many of these movies do. And an introduction by Elizabeth Smart ensures that this is not going to be trashy. Unfortunately, it's just not that well made. And I will take some of the blame. I try very hard to go into every movie with an open mind - but for the life of me, I couldn't grasp little DJ Conner from ROSEANNE becoming a sexual predator. It doesn't help that he is sporting facial hair that looks as though a 3-year-old drew on him with a magic marker. Another set of facial hair at the very end is so bad that it made me do a spit take. I would be very interested to see young Howell in better material. I sense the spark of a potentially good actress, although her accent here made me think of a Holly Hunter mini-me. The screenplay waivers between After School Special and psychological textbook. As a linear story, it's quite poor. Elizabeth begins the film living with a single father and two sisters. Later, they totally disappear without explanation, and she is living with an older brother. Supporting performances are average at best - Tracy Penner as Fishman's wife is particularly poor. This is based on a true story, and those involved deserve more than just good intentions.

Not so great.. the editing is bad. The acting is bad...the script ot slow ...the movie could be 30mins shorter... really had to force myself to watch till the end. The Teacher didn't seem convincing and the girl was not convincing either...The acting makes ot not so believable and the dialogue is silly... Don't know why I bothered watch this.. it has many slow boring scenes too .It looks like one of those movies made by evangelical churches? Ot just seems very long-winded... Just not worth watching.. would have been better they did a documentary style than this format..I almost fell asleep watching this..

One thing Lifetime generally does very well is these "ripped from the headlines" stories that concern child abductions or other exploitative conduct.

Lifetime's treatment of this case is very fair, even-handed, and very closely aligned (as I come to learn later after reading more about the case) to the facts of the case - without ever overtly conveying (yet certainly implying) that violations occurred.

But I particularly want to praise the performance of the young actress Summer Howell who portrayed the real life victim Elizabeth Thomas. I thought she was perfectly cast and brilliantly conveyed the emotional conflict experienced by the victim with incredible nuance and authenticity. If there is such a thing, she deserves a "Lifetime Movie Award" (or even nomination) for Best Actress.

Sadly, the real life events are much more "abusive" than what is portrayed on film, but we readily accept that that is Lifetime's typical convention.

This is the first time I've ever given a Lifetime movie a "10". I really don't know what more you would want from a Lifetime movie based on these events.

Elizabeth Thomas (Summer H. Howell) is a 15 year old new high school student after a life in home-schooling. She is called trailer trash especially with the rumors about her mother. She is befriended by her health class teacher Tad Cummins (Michael Fishman). He seems friendly and caring to all his students. After another student reports them, he gets investigated by the police.

This is an effective Lifetime movie. Summer H. Howell looks young enough and that helps with the realism. It is a long way from DJ for Michael Fishman. I don't know if this is based on a true story. It is par for the course for Lifetime.

This was a very moving and excellently made Lifetime movie that I have seen to-date! I did not know about the Elizabeth Thomas kidnapping until I read the synopsis on IMDb. So naturally I Googled her name and read a few articles about the case.

I find it absolutely disgusting how some people victim-blame in this and other similar cases? Do they have no shame? How can they just blame the poor girl and still call that vile predator the real victim? Do the math, how many fifteen year olds seduce their fifty year old teachers? I have seen the real pictures of that animal and he is fugly as hell!

He saw a girl who did not have any friends and came from a struggling, but not dysfunctional family, and he pounced on her and groomed her to the point where she accepted his offer to run away together. Especially when he threatened to kill himself (which to me is a total lie) so that she would be put on a difficult spot and give in.

And only getting twenty years for what he did? I don't care if he pleaded guilty, he should have received the right punishment. Elizabeth was dead right. He should have got thirty-eight years, one year for each day she was his captive. I hope that animal, whose vile name I refuse to right, dies on prison, of natural causes of course. I am saying this so IMDb moderators don't reject my contribution. I do not believe in violence. All I am saying he does not deserve to see the world outside of prison ever again.

My only criticism is after Beth's reunification with her family we only see her brother right till the end, and rest vanish as if they're not important!

On a final note, Summer Howell was absolutely superb in this. I am going to watch out for her for I believe she'll go big on the silver screen. I highly recommend this movie. This one gets ten stars from me.