Viewers comparing new Netflix thriller to Liam Neeson's Taken

Netflix has released new thriller Lou - and if you like Taken, then it may be a bit of you. Watch the trailer here:

The film has only just dropped on the streaming service, but already it has drawn comparisons with the Liam Neeson film franchise, which debuted in 2008.

Lou stars Oscar-winner Allison Janney as the titular character, who embarks on a dark mission to rescue a mother's kidnapped daughter.

So, with a plot line like that, it's easy to see why the Taken comparisons have been cropping up.

On Twitter, one viewer wrote: "Done watching #Lou on netflix. It's like watching Taken but with less people in it. Good choice for a Friday night movie."

Another said: "Perfect casting to put @AllisonBJanney in a role like this. She truly can do anything.

"Lou gives Allison Janney the @JohnWickMovie role, with some #LiamNeesom in Taken as a side dish."

While a third added: "lmao did Netflix make a female version of Taken called Lou?"

Done watching #Lou on netflix. It’s like watching Taken but with less people in it. Good choice for a Friday night movie.

— Pebbles C 🇵🇭 (@pebbykins) September 23, 2022

lmao did netflix make a female version of "taken" called "Lou"?.

ded

— Zandy Boi (@InternetSkreet) September 24, 2022

Enjoying the female version of Taken. Only gripe is that it's on Netflix and is called Lou

— isn't it lovely (@GuestName10) September 24, 2022

It's not just viewers who have seen similarities either, with Digital Spy labelling the movie 'Allison Janney's Taken – but not as fun as that sounds'.

The publication's review reads: "The drawback of such a strong hook – and Taken's box-office success – is that many would try and replicate it. The latest in a long line of imitators is Lou on Netflix, which does the full Taken by casting Allison Janney against type as a grizzled former CIA spy.

"Sounds fun, right? It absolutely should be with the talents of Janney and Birds of Prey's Jurnee Smollett, who takes on a co-lead role here.

"The problem is that unlike Taken, Lou either knows what it is and is ashamed of it, or thinks it's a lot deeper than it really is."

Meanwhile, the A.V. Club drew more favourable comparisons.

Its review reads: "In Lou, it’s flat-out fun to see Allison Janney get to make her own version of Taken and Nobody. And she plays the vengeful, flawed saviour role with just as much no-nonsense determination, rigorous gusto, and grizzled grit as Liam Neeson and Bob Odenkirk ever could—combined."

Perhaps then, if you're a fan of this kind of film, you're best off watching it for yourself and seeing how it stands up.

The synopsis reads: "Thinking she’d put her dangerous past behind her, Lou (Allison Janney) finds her quiet life interrupted when a desperate mother (Jurnee Smollett) begs her to save her kidnapped daughter.

"As a massive storm rages, the two women risk their lives on a rescue mission that will test their limits and expose dark and shocking secrets from their pasts."