Shubhabrata Dutta
A boy who was abducted a decade ago returns home to her mother in Lifetime’s thriller drama ‘The Boy Who Vanished.’ Directed by Christie Will Wolf, the story centers on Haley Reese, who is overwhelmed that her son Jack is back after almost 10 years. However, her care slowly turns to suspicion after she picks up signs that point to the possibility that Jack may not be Jack after all. The boy’s peculiar behavior indicates that he is hiding stuff, including his real identity. As Haley struggles to figure out whether the boy in her house is indeed Jack, ‘The Boy Who Vanished’ takes the shape of a dark drama garnished with lies and deceit. The visuals of ‘The Boy Who Vanished’ are used to establish the tension and mystery that almost serve as manifestations of Haley’s fear.
Where was The Boy Who Vanished Filmed?
‘The Boy Who Vanished’ was filmed in British Columbia, specifically in Kelowna. Principal photography reportedly took place between the first and the third week of February 2025. Director Christie Will Wolf took to social media to express her gratitude and appreciation for the cast and crew. “Some riveting, emotionally raw performances I had the privilege to direct…Every frame was composed with elegance and instinct-it was a dream collaboration…to my entire crew in Kelowna, BC-you are experts, artists, and absolute legends. I love you. Proud doesn’t even begin to cover it,” she wrote.
Kelowna, British Columbia
Kelowna, which is situated on Okanagan Lake in the eponymous valley in British Columbia’s southern region, became the base for the filming of ‘The Boy Who Vanished.’ The picturesque city is known for its urban and natural landscapes, and the team took proper care in incorporating them into the narrative via indoor and outdoor shots. Several outdoor scenes were also captured with snow in the background, giving the story a sense of chill. While the crew captured the majority of the scenes in the movie in real settings, it may have also opted for studio facilities for shooting in controlled environments and customizable sets. The city is home to the Kelowna Film Studios, located at 100-1516 Keehn Road, a reputed studio boasting 3,000 sq. ft. of production space with state-of-the-art amenities and equipment.
Kelowna is reputed for its vineyards and wineries. Some of the most popular among them are Cedarcreek Estate Winery, 50th Parallel Estate Winery, Ex Nihilo Vineyards, Meadow Vista Honey Wines, and Gray Monk Estate Winery. Once you are done tasting some of the world-class wines, you can give yourself and your family some relaxing time at Knox Mountain Park or Okanagan Lake. Other landmarks, spots, and areas you can visit include Central Okanagan, Big White Ski Resort, Kangaroo Creek Farm, Myra Canyon Park, and Kasugai Japanese Garden. Some other movies that have used the stunning locales of Kelowna as a backdrop for their narrative are ‘Girl Taken,’ ‘The 13th Wife,’ and ‘The Bear Lake Murders.’
The Boy Who Vanished Cast Details
The cast of ‘The Boy Who Vanished’ is led by Tegan Moss and Aiden Howard. Tegan began her acting career as a kid. She is also a well-known voiceover artist. Aiden was a banker before he decided to pursue acting. Having grown up watching ‘Spy Kids,’ he wanted to be one of them, a dream that eventually led him to quit his job and pursue the art. He is also into sports. While both actors have worked in Lifetime projects, ‘The Boy Who Vanished’ is their first project together.
Tegan Moss as Haley Reese
Tegan Moss plays Haley Reese, the mother, in the Lifetime thriller. She is a familiar face on television, with a string of performances to her credit. Some of them are Sam in ‘Making Waves,’ Riley in ‘Love in Glacier National: A National Park Romance,’ Sophia Anderson in ‘Christmas Bedtime Stories,’ and Gianna Summers in ‘Love on Fire.’ She plays Elisabeth McLaren in ‘The Good Doctor’ and Leslie MacCoy in ‘Flashpoint.’ As far as feature films are concerned, you can spot her as Cindy in ‘Charlie St. Cloud,’ Cassandra in ‘Lloyd the Conqueror,’ and Freya in ‘Vikingdom.’ She also lent her voice to the animated movies ‘My Little Pony: The Movie’ and ‘My Little Pony Equestria Girls: Rollercoaster of Friendship.’
Aiden Howard as Jack Reese
Aiden Howard plays Jack Reese, Haley’s son in ‘The Boy Who Vanished.’ While known for his performance as Sam in ‘Goosebumps’ and Brad in ‘Firefly Lane,’ he also made a mark as Willie in ‘Riverdale.’ His other Lifetime projects are ‘Imperfect High,’ where he plays Cy, and ‘Dying for a Family,’ where he can be spotted as Caleb. In the feature film ‘It’s a Wonderful Knife,’ he portrays the role of Jimmy Carruthers.
In ‘The Boy Who Vanished,’ Moss and Howard are joined by a talented additional cast that includes Matthew Kevin Anderson as Richard Reese, Jesse Moss as Michael Conner, and Grace Beedie as Summer. They are joined by Kingston Goodjohn as Tyler, Maia Michaels as Luna, Gord Pankhurst as Travis, Vincent Ross as Detective Doyle, and Marika Siewert as Principal Jacobs.
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