New The Missing-style psychological thriller is a gripping must-watch with a stand-out cast

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Paramount’s new thriller, Girl Taken, immediately grabs your attention with its unsettling atmosphere. Unfortunately, after a promising start involving kidnapping and suspenseful music, the movie loses momentum. What follows is a slow and confusing experience for the viewer.

You might be asking why watch the rest of the series. Surprisingly, Girl Taken stays compelling and hard to stop watching, even with its problems, largely because of the actors’ performances.

The six-part series is inspired by Holly Overton’s novel, Baby Doll, and follows 17-year-old Lily Evans, a student who is kidnapped by her teacher, Rick Hanson, played by Alfie Allen.

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Allen and Evans share a disturbingly compelling connection, which is essential for making this story believable. The intense and unsettling energy between them fuels the narrative and makes you eager to see things resolved fairly.

The strong performances from the lead actors are further enhanced by Jill Halfpenny, who plays mother Eve with a compelling mix of strength and sadness, and Delphi Evans, who convincingly portrays the deep pain of Lily’s twin sister, Abby.

Niamh Walsh gives a wonderfully subtle and memorable performance as Zoe, Rick’s wife, that really stays with you and makes you feel uneasy in a compelling way.

The show is a deeply moving blend of hope, pain, and regret, all of which contribute to its compelling narrative.

The biggest problem with the series isn’t the story itself, but how it’s presented. It feels overly long and drawn out, losing the fast-paced energy of Girl Taken. Unnecessary scenes and unrelated subplots disrupt the main story and slow things down.

Despite the show’s slow pace and predictable moments, the impressive talent and interesting premise are surprisingly easy to overlook its flaws. It’s remarkable how much these strengths compensate for the areas where the show feels drawn out.

Despite its flaws, Girl Taken is still a worthwhile watch. It’s not sophisticated television, and it’s not without its imperfections. However, it’s compelling and keeps you hooked, eager to find out what happens next and see justice served.

Okay, so the big moment we’ve all been waiting for felt a little cheesy if I’m honest, but it still managed to give me a really satisfying feeling of closure. And even though the finale took a while to get there, it definitely earned that happy ending!

All episodes of Girl Taken are available to stream now on Paramount+.

Okay, gamers, listen up! The latest issue of Living Legends is out, and it’s all about Dolly Parton! I just grabbed my copy of ‘Dolly at 80’ – you can find it at any newsagent or online for only £8.99. Seriously, it’s a must-have!

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2026-01-08 09:49