"A Mother's Instinct" (a.k.a., "Her Own Justice") makes the point about a mother's intuition in her desperate search for her kidnapped child. But it goes overboard in its depiction of a mother as vigilante and how she becomes almost exactly like the perpetrator in her actions.
Nora and her daughter Scarlett were undoubtedly distraught at the abduction of little Gus, who was snatched right out of the family home. They were also justifiably outraged at the incompetence of the police in failing to follow up on the obvious investigation of the neighbor boy Seth, who had a criminal record and a ton of baggage with the lead detective on the case.
But the film took an ugly turn when Nora and Scarlett formed a pact to capture Seth, lock him in a cage, and torture him until he revealed information. The two actresses tried admirably to show that their characters had a conscience. But there were moments, especially with Nora's viciousness, that seemed repellent. It is one thing to trust another's instinct; it is quite another commit felony offenses based purely on instinct.
The filmmakers also never provided closure on the fate of Nora and Scarlett after they had broken the law by committing acts of kidnapping and assault. The film ended flat with no denouement. Nor was there any resolution about how Coyle, the bad cop, was treated after he knowingly falsified evidence. Surely, he had committed a criminal offense that merited more than merely his dismissal.
Overall, this was not a very credible film viewing experience. If it was inspired by a true event, it is difficult to imagine that the real outcome would be anything like the one depicted in the movie.
Nora and her daughter Scarlett were undoubtedly distraught at the abduction of little Gus, who was snatched right out of the family home. They were also justifiably outraged at the incompetence of the police in failing to follow up on the obvious investigation of the neighbor boy Seth, who had a criminal record and a ton of baggage with the lead detective on the case.
But the film took an ugly turn when Nora and Scarlett formed a pact to capture Seth, lock him in a cage, and torture him until he revealed information. The two actresses tried admirably to show that their characters had a conscience. But there were moments, especially with Nora's viciousness, that seemed repellent. It is one thing to trust another's instinct; it is quite another commit felony offenses based purely on instinct.
The filmmakers also never provided closure on the fate of Nora and Scarlett after they had broken the law by committing acts of kidnapping and assault. The film ended flat with no denouement. Nor was there any resolution about how Coyle, the bad cop, was treated after he knowingly falsified evidence. Surely, he had committed a criminal offense that merited more than merely his dismissal.
Overall, this was not a very credible film viewing experience. If it was inspired by a true event, it is difficult to imagine that the real outcome would be anything like the one depicted in the movie.