Viewers Are Calling Netflix Crime Drama Most Disturbing Thing They've Ever Seen

Cleveland Abduction is a dramatisation of the Ariel Castro kidnappings, honing in on the story of victim Michelle Knight – the first of three people to be imprisoned by Castro at his home in Cleveland, Ohio. 

Knight, who is played by Taryn Manning in the 2015 film, disappeared on 23 August 2002 after leaving a cousin’s house. Aged 21 at the time, Knight had been scheduled to appear in court for a child custody case for her son. 

Amanda Berry, who was 17, was the second person to be abducted, in April 2003, and went on to give birth to Castro’s child while still imprisoned.

Gina DeJesus, who was just 14, went missing in April 2004. 

Castro was eventually sentenced to life imprisonment plus 1,000 years in prison, without the chance of parole. However, he killed himself in his prison cell just one month into the sentence. 

In Cleveland Abduction, we see how Knight lived through captivity until 2013, having only been rescued after Berry managed to escape and alert authorities.

A synopsis from Netflix says: “Abducted and imprisoned, Michelle Knight finds the will to survive amid the most horrific and heartbreaking of circumstances in this true-crime drama.” 

After being added to the streaming service, many viewers have taken to social media to share what they thought.

In LADbible's Netflix Bangers Facebook group, one person wrote: “I was hooked watching this, I don't know if it's new or not but omg. Crazy to think that things like this actually happened. I felt sick and sad... so many emotions.” 

And over on Twitter, the consensus seems to be the same, with someone writing: "Cleveland Abduction is one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever watched. There’s some sick freaks in this world."

Another agreed: "Watching Cleveland Abduction and I'm currently deeply disturbed."

One said they felt it was a 'good movie', adding: "But the thought of it actually being a true story disgusted me so much I can’t even imagine how traumatizing it must have been for those girls..."

Someone else said: "Cleveland Abduction on Netflix is unbelievably disturbing."

Watch Cleveland Abduction on Netflix now.