Shivangi Sinha
Lifetime’s ‘Do Exactly As I Say‘ is an intense, high-stakes thriller centered on a mother’s desperate fight to save her daughter. Directed by Wendy Ord, the story follows Helen, a private chef working for a tech billionaire who leads a clean energy company. Her life falls apart when her daughter is kidnapped, and she’s blackmailed into exposing damning secrets about her employer, including hidden scandals and the truth behind his company’s operations. As the pressure mounts, Helen realizes she may even be forced to commit murder to secure her daughter’s release. The film delivers relentless tension, with moments of unbearable stress and danger, making it a riveting yet unsettling watch for all.
Do Exactly as I Say Exposes the Dangers and Challenges of the Corporate World
Joy Nicole Fox drew inspiration from numerous sources while crafting the film’s story, particularly the allure and vulnerability of large corporations. While no one particular real-life incident serves as its basis, the traces of the film can be seen all over the world. Big companies, with their immense financial stakes, competitive pressures, and power structures, often become prime targets for coercion, threats, or manipulation. When so much money, influence, and reputation are on the line, even minor breaches can have far-reaching consequences, making them susceptible to exploitation. While the film incorporates certain heightened and dramatic elements, its foundation is based in reality.
While the idea of holding someone hostage for ulterior motives is often depicted in fiction, in reality, many corporate leaders have faced such ordeals themselves. One notable example is Freddy Heineken, the CEO of the Heineken brewing company, who was kidnapped in 1983 in Amsterdam. Heineken and his driver were held for three weeks by a group led by Willem Holleeder and Cor van Hout, who demanded a ransom of 35 million Dutch guilders. After an extensive police investigation, both Heineken and his driver were rescued, and the kidnappers were eventually arrested and convicted. It is one of the most notorious corporate kidnapping cases in history.
Real-Life Examples of Corporate Missteps Likely Serve as Inspiration for the Film
Big corporations hiding the truth is not uncommon, and history is filled with cases where massive secrets have been exposed. These revelations often show how companies mislead the public, governments, and investors for profit, sometimes causing irreversible harm. A prominent example is Volkswagen’s “Green Diesel” deception in 2015. The company marketed its diesel cars as environmentally friendly, boasting low emissions and sustainability. However, it was later discovered that Volkswagen had installed “defeat devices” in millions of vehicles to cheat emissions tests. These cars emitted nitrogen oxide pollutants up to 40 times above legal limits while appearing compliant during tests. It not only cost Volkswagen billions in fines and settlements but also severely damaged public trust in “clean” technology claims.
While ‘Do Exactly As I Say’ may take creative liberties with its plot, its emotional core resonates with undeniable truth. While certain events and characters are fictionalized, the raw emotions they evoke are universal. When Helen is forced to make unthinkable choices to protect her child, it reflects the lengths any parent would go to ensure their child’s safety. Storylines like these have been covered in other films and TV series like ‘Taken,’ ‘Black Mirror’ and many others. This, combined with the film’s subtle use of real-world contexts, such as societal pressures, systemic failures, and moral dilemmas, grounds the story in a world that feels both believable and relatable and makes its impact even more profound.
