Naman Shrestha
A part of Lifetime’s ‘Ripped From the Headlines’ lineup, ‘Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story’ is an adaptation of Ann Rule’s non-fiction novel titled ‘The Painter’s Wife.’ Helmed by Traci Hays, the crime thriller drama movie follows a mother named Martha Carelli, whose peaceful life turns upside down when an escaped convict named Michael Anderson breaks into her home and takes refuge in her basement. To keep herself alive as she is held hostage by the man, Martha is forced to do as he says, including driving his getaway car for him.
Throughout her unsettling ordeal, Martha tries to outwit her captor by leaving subtle clues behind to help the authorities find and rescue her. However, when Michael is overcome with bouts of rage, she must remain resilient and draw on her survival instincts to get away from his clutches and return home unharmed. The tale of survival and resilience unfolds across the streets of the city, where Martha must use distractions to break free from Michael’s captivity.
Where Was Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story Filmed?
‘Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story’ was filmed in its entirety in Georgia, particularly in and around Atlanta. Principal photography for the Lifetime production reportedly began in the first week of December 2025 under the working title ‘The Martha Carelli Story’ and continued for nearly three weeks before wrapping in the last week of the same month. One of the cast members, Dove Meir, expressed his gratitude for being a part of the film, stating, “Thank you to the producers and the entire crew for working so hard to pull off this film! It was an honor and a privilege to work with each one of you!”
Atlanta, Georgia
Also dubbed Hollywood of the South, Atlanta served as the primary production location for ‘Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story.’ The filming unit took over a real-life residential property in the capital city of Georgia to depict Martha Carelli’s home, where the kidnapper hides and holds her hostage. As for the exterior scenes featuring Martha and Michael driving in the latter’s getaway car, they were shot on different streets and in diverse neighborhoods across the city. For instance, they were spotted recording several exterior scenes outside a Quick Shop Food Mart.
From what we can tell, some of the interior scenes in the car were seemingly taped on a soundstage at one of the film studios located in or around Atlanta. Apart from the Lifetime production, the city has hosted the production of numerous movies and TV shows over the years. Some of the notable ones include ‘Prisoners,’ ‘The Naked Gun,’ ‘The Nice Guys,’ ‘Baby Driver,’ ‘Hunting Season,’ ‘Den of Thieves,’ ‘The Staircase,’ ‘Tulsa King,’ and ‘His & Hers.’
Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story Cast Details
Stana Katic and Tyler Tomás Perez help bring the enthralling tale of ‘Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story’ to life through their impressive onscreen performances. Apart from acting, Stana has also served as a producer/executive producer on various projects, including ‘The Alternative Travel Project,’ ‘Castle,’ and ‘Absentia.’ On the other hand, Tyler has also served as a producer, director, and writer on a short film titled ‘Anywhere But Here.’
Stana Katic as Martha Carelli
Stana Katic dons the garb of Martha Carelli, a mother who is taken hostage in her own home, in the Lifetime production. Throughout her decades-long career, she has showcased her acting prowess by taking on roles in a variety of projects. Known for portraying Kate Beckett in ‘Castle,’ Emily Byrne in ‘Absentia,’ Sofia in ‘For Lovers Only,’ Morgenstern in ‘The Spirit,’ and Genya Ravan in ‘CBGB,’ Stana also features in ‘Murder in a Small Town,’ ‘A Call to Spy,’ ‘The Possession of Hannah Grace,’ ‘The Rendezvous,’ ‘Sister Cities,’ and ‘Big Sur.’
Tyler Tomás Perez as Michael Anderson
Tyler Tomás Perez steps into the role of Michael Anderson, the volatile captor of Martha, in ‘Kidnapped in Her Own Home: The Martha Carelli Story.’ You might recognize him from ‘Abbott Elementary’ as Caleb, ‘Code Black’ as Diego Avila, ‘From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series’ as Derek, ‘WITS Academy’ as Cameron Masters, ‘Class Act’ as Derek Perez, and ‘L.A.’s Finest’ as Young Dante. His TV credits include ‘Turkey Drop,’ ‘The Last Whistle,’ and ‘2020.’
Moreover, Gilbert Glenn Brown portrays Derrick, while Adam Laborde features as Motel Clerk. Ian Choi also appears in the film and plays the role of Tim. In addition, other talented actors who feature in the thriller movie include Jason Chadwick as a SWAT officer, Chris Greene as a News Reporter, Dove Meir as John Carelli, Lauren O’Quinn as Nancy, Lloyd Pitts as SWAT Leader, Michael Shenefelt as Doug Parry, Gavin Keoni Spinner as Bennet Carelli, and Robert Carter as a Police Officer.
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