'Girl in the Video' (2024) release date, plot, full cast, first look, and is Lifetime movie worth watching
Movie name: Girl in the Video
Platform: Lifetime
Country of origin: UK/USA
Date of Release: January 13, 2024
Genre: Thriller
Director: Neil Rawles
Writer: Matthew Broughton
Full cast: Cush Jumbo, Matthew Marsden, Andrew Lee Potts, Wendy Glenn, Tia May Watts, Amaree Ali, Kristopher Bosch, Alicia Charles, Jennifer Aries
What is the plot of 'Girl in the Video'?
Mo is a widow struggling to raise her two teenage children, Krissy and Robbie. Unbeknownst to her, daughter Krissy has started chatting online with 'Toby' who she presumes is a cute high school senior. Despite having never met Toby, Krissy agrees to meet him at a party. On the night of the so-called party, Krissy sneaks out of the house to meet Toby and vanishes. As the manhunt for the missing Krissy gathers steam, an anonymous tip to the police claims Krissy has been kidnapped and is being forced to do sexually explicit streams on the Dark Web. As the clock begins to run down on Krissy's life, Mo and Robbie race against time to put all the clues together and find the missing teen.
Is 'Girl in the Video' based on a true story?
According to Lifetime 'Girl in the Video' is inspired by true events. Although we could not find one specific story that may have inspired the film, there is speculation online that it may have been inspired by the story of Lorie or Lori Walker, who answered an ad for a music video model only to find herself entrapped in the world of illegal pornography. Walker's story was also the basis for the 2011 film 'Video Girl' starring Meagan Good.
'Girl in the Video' Main Cast
Cush Jumbo
British actress Cush Jumbo is a very familiar face to all of us who watch a lot of TV. Her supreme talents have been on display in Britain in hit series like 'Harley Street', 'Torchwood' and the exceptional 'Vera'. American fans will know her best as Lucca Quinn in the hit show 'The Good Wife' and its not-as-good spinoff 'The Good Fight'. She was also excellent as Megan Pierce in Netflix's 'Stay Close', based on the novel by Harlan Coben. Fans can see her next in the upcoming Apple series 'Criminal Record' alongside the fabulously grim Peter Capaldi. She also stars in the upcoming movie 'Balestra'. Cush plays Mo in 'Girl in the Video'.
Matthew Marsden
Another familiar face who crossed the Pond and brought his stardom with him. A British soap opera favorite, Matthew starred in both of the UK's biggest soaps ('Emmerdale' and 'Coronation Street'). He most-recently starred in the series 'Reacher' opposite man-mountain and consummate Lee Child manifestation Alan Ritchson. He can be seen next in the movie 'Protocol 7'. He plays Agent Ray Fry in 'Girl in the Video'.
Tia May Watts
Watts plays Krissy in 'Girl in the Video'. A relative newcomer, Watts started her acting career playing Georgina in 'Hollington Drive' before starring in the hit shows 'The Chelsea Detective' and 'Midsomer Murders'. But Watts is so much more than just an actress, she has also written and directed two shorts: 'I Will Always Find You' and 'The God Complex'. She can be seen next in the upcoming as-yet-untitled 'Nikita' project.
Amaree Ali
If Watts is a "relative newcomer" Amaree's acting career is in its infancy, although he did compete in 'The Voice Kids UK'. He starred in 'The Lazarus Project' and in the recently-released and critically-lauded 'Archie' about the life of Hollywood icon Carey Grant. He plays Robbie in 'Girl in the Video' and can be seen next in the upcoming 'This Time Next Year' alongside icons Anita Dobson and John Hannah.
Is 'Girl in the Video' worth watching?
In short, yes. The cast is outstanding and even the young actors are on pretty firm ground talentwise. While the plot itself may not stand out in its originality, the cast should more than make up for any shortcomings in that department.
MEAWW Watch ranking
3 out of 5
'Girl in the Video' First Look