Abhiroop Das
Helmed by Mike Hoy, Lifetime’s ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town‘ follows Sarah and Ruby on a road trip gone wrong. When their car breaks down in the middle of nowhere, a seemingly benevolent passerby named Allie offers to drop Ruby off at the nearest town while Sarah waits for the tow service. However, when she manages to catch up, she is surprised to find Ruby missing and Allie outright denying ever meeting them. Sarah finds herself alone in an unwelcoming town, where everyone seems to walk a fine line between friend and foe, and she must ask the right questions and look at the right spots to find her daughter before it’s too late. The thriller drama film has a tight cast where, being a mystery narrative, every character is important and potentially has an ace up their sleeve.
Kidnapped in a Small Town Filming Locations
‘Kidnapped in a Small Town’ was lensed in its entirety in Kentucky, with the city of Louisville and Spencer County being its major filming locations. The crew reportedly began shooting on August 28, 2024, continuing well into September. The production was an all-around exciting experience, with the cast members frequently collaborating and having fun behind the scenes, as captured on their social media. The sweltering heat of the month of September also became a talking point for the stars of this Lifetime feature.
Spencer County, Kentucky
The filming of ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town’ took place in Spencer County, where the crew reportedly set up camp for a week or so. Located at the heart of the state’s bluegrass region, the county is known for its vast meadows and other natural spaces. As such, it became a perfect fit for the movie, which spends a significant amount of its runtime inside cars. Most of the shooting took place on the road, with special gears attached to cars to create perfect interior and exterior shots.
Louisville, Kentucky
In early September, the production team of ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town’ also utilized the locales of Louisville, the largest city in Kentucky. Located less than forty miles from Spencer County, the city is a place beaming with culture, known for its vibrant museums, baseball manufacturing facilities, and hosting the iconic Kentucky Horse Derby every year. In Louisville, the shooting moved to the streets, organically capturing the big city’s urban landscapes and hustle and bustle. The film involves some complex action sequences, which were also likely shot on location. The actors further made note of the city’s unpredictable weather, with Alice Blasingame describing the sudden shift from extreme heat to rainfall in a social media post.
Kidnapped in a Small Town Cast Details
The story of ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town’ goes through a roller-coaster of emotions, with the happiness and nostalgia of a family road trip giving way to distress and anguish when things take a wild turn, transitioning into paranoia and, ultimately, resolve. None of this could have been made possible without the talent of the cast, seamlessly capturing the length and breadth of the narrative in all its nuances and bringing it to the screen with their powerful performances. The cast is spearheaded by Alicia Blasingame, Joesy De Palo, and Wynn Reichert, with Chelsea Rose Cook and Holly Anspaugh also playing a major role.
Alicia Blasingame as Sarah
Alicia Blasingame essays the character of Sarah, Ruby’s mother. Her role is at the heart of ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town,’ as it is her character’s decisions that ultimately steer the story in and out of tragedy. With over 50 screen credits, she is one of the most experienced members of the team. Her performance in hit titles such as ‘Family Ornaments’ where she excels Meredith and in ‘Bodyguard Seduction.’ where she steps into the role of Lark Embridge, best display her acting prowess Besides movies, she has also dipped her toes in various television miniseries, such as ‘Jay Shetty,’ ‘I Faked My Own Death,’ and ‘UFOs Crashed My Vacation.’
Joesy De Palo as Ruby
In ‘Kidnapped in a Small Town,’ Joesy De Palo portrays Ruby, a young girl headed for college, whose sudden disappearance changes the shape of the narrative. She began her career in 2022 with the short film ‘Stray.’ She features in popular short films such as ‘A Wonderful Life,’ where she portrays Irene, and the short film ‘Bloody Vamps,’ where she plays Janice. She is also a part of the award-winning short film ‘Voler,’ where she masterfully essays the role of Lily. Besides films, she also has a vibrant career in theater, playing the role of the ringmaster in the period drama ‘Elephant’s Graveyard.’ Joesy also has experience working on the other side of the camera as a crew member for ‘The Jennifer Hudson Show.’
Holly Anspaugh as Allie
Holly Anspaugh plays the role of Allie, the mysterious passerby who helps Sarah and Ruby at their time of crisis by offering to give the latter a ride to safety but then pretends to have never met them at all. Being an antagonistic role, it demands a lot from the performer, and Holly nails it. She reportedly began acting classes in 2020 under the guidance of celebrated acting coach Jim Dougherty and juggled working full-time and pursuing her passion. Her efforts found success in the form of her roles in ‘Chicago Med,’ where she portrays Erica Bavinger, along with her performance as Amy in ‘The Recovery’ and Jamie in ‘This Cold Black.’ You can also find her in ‘Wherein Lies Continue,’ where she essays the role of Melanie.
Chelsea Rose Cook as Jane
Chelsea Rose Cook is famous for playing the lead antagonist in various Lifetime productions, most notably as Kendra Peterson in ‘Bad Nanny.’ The trend continues in this film, where she plays the role of Jane, a mysterious resident of the town. Alongside this, she has made her presence known through her performance as Carla ‘Dancer in Danger,’ Imani in ‘Yellow Broken Road,’ as well as Jordan Cato in ‘Honeywell’ and Leslie Wells in ‘Secret Life of the Surgeon’s Wife.’ Chelsea also stars opposite Jensen Ackles and Eric Dane in ‘Countdown.’
‘Kidnapped in a Small Town’ also features Wynn Reichert, an industry veteran who is known for his roles in ‘Alto Knights‘ and ‘Dark Waters,’ and Eric Six, who plays the role of a clerk. He is joined by Karra Robinson and Megan Massie, who play Angie and Lily, respectively. Joe Gatton essays the character of Sheriff Hoffman, supported by Terry Quillen and Janora Sanders, who portray police officers. Many talented actors shine in the movie, such as Gary Hood as Michael, Clay Crump as Reggie, Angel Ray as Cab Driver, Christina Pope as Restaurant Server, Dameion Dukes as Don, as well as Gene Park as Dave, Bryce Hagan as Manny, and Aaron Botts as Nick. Rounding up the supporting cast are Gene Wood and Gerald Schiedewitz, who play Restaurant Patrons.
Read More: Is Lifetime’s Kidnapped in a Small Town Based on a True Story?
