Jeri Jacquin

Coming to theatres and On Demand this Friday from writer/director Kerry Bellessa, Joshua Oram and Lionsgate is the story of an AMBER ALERT.

Jaq (Hayden Panettiere) is running late for a meeting downtown and the ride she ordered has decided to leave without her. As another drivers’ passengers leave, Jaq asks driver Shane (Tyler James Williams) if he would take one more passenger. At first Shane isn’t thrilled with the prospect, but Jaq is convincing and off they go.

Across town at a local park, Monica (Katie McClellan) is at the park with her children. Charlotte (Ducky Cash) is playing hide and seek when a car slowly puts up next to her. Moments later, Monica calls out for Charlotte and she is gone. Calling 9-1-1, operator Cici (Saidah Arrika Ekulona) takes the car from the frantic Monica and she takes it to Sgt. Casey (Kevin Dunn) to post an Amber Alert.

Jaq and Shane receive the alert on their phones and look to see the information. Within minutes, a car ahead of them catches Jaq’s attention. Calling 9-1-1, she also is patched into Cici who takes the information and thanks them for the call. Jaq can’t stop the feeling that something is wrong with this car and talks Shane into following it. He is not sure that this is all a good idea, not to mention that he it is causing a bit of family drama.

When Jaq gets a peek into the car, she is more determined than ever to follow it. What comes next is an understanding between driver and passenger that pushes them to continue. When Charlotte’s mother decides it’s time to intervene, Jaq and Shane know what they must do. It is dangerous but they know someone must stop what could come next!

Panettiere as Jaq is a woman who believes that following a car is not only right but imperative. Doing her best to talk Shane, a stranger, into following starts out difficult but with each mile that passes becomes easier. Panettiere portrayal is that of a woman following her instincts, even into a totally dangerous situation. Williams as Shane makes his living driving and when Jaq talks him into one more ride, he could never have imagined where it would take him. Williams gives his character a healthy amount of skepticism, but there comes a personal moment where he knows that he and Jaq are not going to stop.

Ekulona as Cici takes the calls and tries to do what she can. There also comes a shocking moment for Cici and Ekulona gives her role importance. Dunn as Sgt. Casey follows leads and when Jaq calls, he begins to understand that the road to finding Charlotte lies with two strangers. McClellan as Monica is a mother who is dealing with the guilt of her child being abducted but also a mother who is going to do what needs doing to get her child home.

Other cast include Krus Valero as Simone, Sean Ramey as Truck Driver, Jeffery Croft II as Officer Jameson and Kurt Oberhaus as The Man.

Lionsgate is a global leader in motion picture production and distribution for theatres, television, home entertainment and more. Theatre franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES, and DIVERGENT along with JOHN WICK. Now, adding this film to its 16,000-motion picture and television titles you can see everything coming soon as well as available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

AMBER ALERT is a film that will resonate with all parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and everyone who has a child in their lives. We have been told over and over that it only takes a second and this film proves that. Lives are more hectic and distracting than ever before and with cell phones, it can cut that second of distraction in half. The Amber Alert was introduced in 1997 when 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was abducted. Since then, the world understands the sound the alert makes coming through our cell phones and on lighted highway signs.

The film also is an intense thriller that had me yelling at the screen a few times. That’s probably the mother/grandmother reaction in me coming out in full fierce force and I’m alright with it. That is what a film about such a delicate subject should do, cause a reaction that will stay with viewers for quite a while after the movie is over. Panettiere and Williams take us on the ride along with them as well as carry the film’s message and it works.

In the end – two strangers are her only hope!

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