Taken Back: Finding Haley (2012)

Moira Kelly is one of the very underrated actresses we have today.Too bad that she does not want to play within the system of Hollywood that made her somewhat unfamiliar today despite having great acting talent and the potential of becoming a Hollywood superstar.Nevertheless,it was still nice to see her once in a while in what could have been in this Lifetime Movie entitled,"Taken Back: Finding Haley".This TV movie is about a mother named Karen Turner.She was unfortunate that she lost her 3 year-old daughter Haley through child abduction during a carnival ride.This has affected her for so many years that she becomes mother obsessed and suffered psychologically for so many years that her husband divorced her and her career as a photographer suffered.After more than a decade,she still cannot get over the loss of her daughter that she still seeks for her by taking class pictures of High School students.Then she meets a mysterious student named Emma.Interesting things begin to happen after it.I must admit that Lifetime TV movies are not of the highest standards in terms of quality of stories.This meets within that standard considering that it had a lot of melodramatic moments especially during the first 1/3 when Karen was basically emotionally drained and when there were somewhat unrealistic moments especially involving Karen's own investigation about Emma.But what makes it different from the rest is the fact that Moira Kelly did great as a the mother obsessed of finding her lost daughter.She definitely made the viewers focus on her character and cheer for her quest that made them overlook the problems and imperfections that the screenplay has.In addition,other members of the cast like Amanda Tapping,who played Emma's stepmother; and Kacey Rohl,who played Emma deserve credit as well in terms of performance.Overall,I was just glad to see this TV movie especially when it features one of my favorite actresses in the 90's and star of The Cutting Edge in Moira Kelly.

I haven't seen a movie that stars Moira Kelly for so many years now.After having seen The Cutting Edge,Chaplin,Daybreak,Entertaining Angels and many other films she appeared in back in the 90's,it has been awhile since she appeared in film.Despite being very pretty and talented,she obviously does not play the game the stars play in Hollywood which resulted to not being a Hollywood superstar.In spite of it,I was just happy to read that she has found fulfillment with her family particularly her two kids which she would never regret attaining rather than Hollywood stardom.That resulted to appearing in less movies and not to mention that actresses in their 40's get less roles.But one day,I tried to look at IMDb and saw a Lifetime TV movie that she starred in recently entitled Taken Back:Finding Haley.The film is about a mother who lost her child through abduction.The role of Karen Turner as a mother obsessed woman definitely suits her.Aside from Kelly,it also stars Amanda Tapping,David Cubitt and Kacey Rohl.It was written by Brian D. Young and directed by Mark Jean.It starts off with a carousel scene and the abduction of 3 year old Haley.Karen Turner suffers emotionally that she starts to turn people she knows away from her including her husband.Also,her health suffers as we see her take various prescription medicines.But after more than a decade of looking for Haley,her obsession and determination in finding her never wavered until she finally found a lead to where her daughter probably could be while working as a school photographer.While my expectations for a Lifetime TV movie isn't that much and probably even minimal for it is typically low-budgeted and does not involved top talent,I felt that Moira Kelly's performance was something special.Although one would find her somewhat very emotional in the first 1/3 of the it that many viewers could be bothered with,she definitely raised the level of the film to being more than just a typical TV movie shown on Lifetime TV.On many scenes towards the end,she definitely would bring many viewers to tears especially after she finally found Haley back.She also managed to cover some plot holes that the screenplay has as she managed to have the viewers focused on her and cheered for her character in search of Haley.In summary,she definitely raised the level of this film.Aside from Kelly,it also worthy to mention that Kacey Rohl as the mysterious Emma.Finally,it also provided the viewers awareness about the issue of child abduction in the United States.This is definitely worthy to watch for people who love more than just ordinary TV movies and for Moira Kelly fans to once again appreciate the talent that she has and that she truly is an underrated actress and someone who never got into the level stardom that she should have at least managed to achieved as a performer.

I stayed up extra late just to catch the second viewing of this movie . It didn't disappoint on most levels . I just have a few factual questions .For example the couple who lost their daughter in a drowning accident in the tub . If it were truly an accident and no harm was meant . Why didn't they at least try to get their little angel help . Even if it were to late they could have tried .The police would have figured out that it was an accident .But No the husband/father sticks his head in the sand and allows his wife to steal a little girl who does not belong to them . Instead of doing the right thing right away he continued to turn a blind eye .Second question is for the biological mother to Haley ...Why would she "kidnap" her own daughter , if she honestly thought this was Haley she could have found this out by the finger prints or a DNA test. Of course she would have spooked the kidnappers out and they would have wanted to run but she could have done things a better way .Other than that it could have had a better ending the Haley walking out with her "Mother" and then as the Police have her in the car , just walking by her . I would have wanted to say so much to her if I were Haley !!!!

This is a stellar movie, and I do not understand the low rating at all. My mother and I loved it! The movie is about a girl named Hayle was kidnapped at three years old from a merry-go-round. Karen spends twelve years searching for her daughter, the father gives up after two years because he has a life to live.Karen eventually finds Hayley-Emma at a high school where she is taking photos for the high school yearbook.I don't want to give the whole thing away because this is such a powerful movie. I rooted for Karen the whole way and I cried with her. How could those people who took Hayley put a mother through that kind of grief after what they suffered?