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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Zoe Delaney

Netflix viewers horrified by 'disturbing' film as dark scenes leave them sickened

True crime drama Cleveland Abduction's stint on Netflix has got everyone talking about how 'disturbing' it is.

Based on the Ariel Castro kidnappings, the crime drama stars Taryn Manning, Raymond Cruz and Joe Morton and is an adaption of the memoir, Finding Me: A Decade of Darkness, a Life Reclaimed by Michelle Knight.

Originally released as a made-for-television movie in 2015, Cleveland Abduction has reached a whole new audience since landing on Netflix and unsettling new viewers.

The film follows the story of Michelle Knight, who was the first of three victims to be imprisoned by Ariel Castro at his home in Cleveland, Ohio in the early 00s.

Michelle - portrayed on screen by Taryn Manning - disappeared on 23 August 2002 after leaving a cousin’s house.

Taryn Manning starring in the Lifetime movie Cleveland Abduction (Lifetime)

She is held her captive in Castro's home, eventually alongside two other women, and subjected to physical and sexual abuse.

Taryn, who has appeared in hits like Orange is the New Black, admitted she felt "anxious" before taking on the big role in 2015.

When asked by Marie Claire if she felt uneasy stepping into such a horrific world, she replied: "Yes. I don't think I have ever been so anxious or nervous in my career as an actress.

The events shocked the world (Lifetime)

But it was a different type of nerves that I truly cannot articulate."

Seven years on from its original release date, Cleveland Abduction has horrified a whole new audience thanks to the terrifying true story behind the movie.

"Cleveland Abduction is one of the most disturbing things I’ve ever watched. There’s some sick freaks in this world," one viewer took to muse, with another adding: "Watching Cleveland Abduction and I'm currently deeply disturbed."

The house was eventually demolished (Getty Images)

A third added: "But the thought of it actually being a true story disgusted me so much I can’t even imagine how traumatising it must have been for those girls..."

After a buzz was generated online, over recent days many in the U.K have logged into Netflix hoping to tune into the 'disturbing' crime drama, only to be disappointed.

One fan took to Twitter this week to ponder: "Why is #clevelandabduction not on my #netflix?"

Another directly tweeted the streaming giant: "Why did you guys lie about Cleveland Abduction? It isn’t even there."

Not everyone has been able to catch the movie on Netflix (Getty Images)

A third pleaded: "@NetflixUK will Cleveland Abduction be shown on UK Netflix? i’m reading a lot about this and need to see it."

For those with VPNs, or in countries where the movie is available on their subscription plan, Netflix's synopsis for the film reads: "Abducted and imprisoned, Michelle Knight finds the will to survive amid the most horrific and heartbreaking of circumstances in this true-crime drama."

Michelle was just 21 at the time of the abduction and had been scheduled to appear in court for a child custody case for her son before being kidnapped by Castro.

He went on to abduct Amanda Berry, then 17, in April 2003 and his final victim the following year, 14-year-old Gina DeJesus.

During her time in captivity, Amanda gave birth to Castro's child.

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