Who Took Johnny (2014)

There are better movies of two hours length. I loved the actress'performance.

This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

An old-fashioned movie made with new-fashioned finesse.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

It must be very hard to make a documentary about subject matter as inconclusive as this. Missing kid, lot of assumptions but no resolution several decades later.Summing it up it follows a boy who went missing during his paper round and a string of people who may or may not be connected and claims by the mother that understandably come into question.Full of archive footage and interviews from as far back as the early 80's when the boy went missing the documentary is competently made but the whole thing is nothing but one big question mark.Though a couple of mysteries regarding other children are solved this case has never and almost certainly will never be.The most interesting thing to come away from this documentary and case are the stances of the police/FBI. Was there a cover up? If so why? Or was this just good old fashioned incompetence.Not the most compelling viewing but watchable all the same if you go in knowing you won't really learn anything at all of the case.

Who Took JohnnyWho Took Johnny is an intriguing film that documents the events that followed the disappearance of Johnny Gosch on September 5, 1982 from West De Moines, Iowa. This documentary highlights his mother, Noreen Gosch, and her independent search for her son. The film documents a more current child abduction in Waterloo, Iowa as well as Johnny's case in order to show the advancement of the police force. There are many indirect interviews in this film that give many different personal perspectives from family members, detectives, childhood friends, and abductors of Johnny. Each interview features intimate stories and experiences that give the audience all sides of the story. By exploiting every detail of every perspective, this film does a phenomenal job at letting the viewer form their own opinion about the mysteries of the case. As the audience continues to learn more about the conspiracy, they are continually discovering information that is essential for forming their own case for Johnny Gosch's abduction. Considering this is a documentary, there are quite a few boring segments. It occasionally highlights significant and insignificant moments in Noreen's life, which is not necessarily relevant to the case. However, I do believe that they show her everyday life to make the point that tragedy can happen to anyone. Although her everyday tasks are boring, they were not a waste of time to watch. However, I did enjoy this film for its ability to keep the audience on edge and proper timing of releasing details. This film keeps viewers in suspense and keeps them wondering about the clues to come. The disappearance of Johnny Gosch is a mystery that most people will never understand, but Who Took Johnny gives curious minds an insight to the real cause for his abduction. This film has lit a spark in me to research further into this case, and I highly recommend this documentary because of that.

I felt awful for this kid Johnny , even the other kid who took him ( Paul) ..I also believed him about this secret network, it exists.. What i don't believe is the mother that Johnny visited her :( I just have this zing in my body that she is lying..I cannot even imagine what they went through and yes I truly believe Johnny can be brainwashed and just wont contact his family, it does happen.. I don't know why I don't believe Noreen, I just don't.. I hope Johnny is living and has some kind of peace.. What a horrible event ..: ( I know Noreen has been to hell and back and she is a hero for all she does, but I just feel like it didn't happen, Johnny's visit. As a mother I would be never letting him go, IDK, maybe it did happen, I just don't believe it..

I lived in DesMoines at the time Johnny Gosch and Eugene Martin were abducted. I worked in close association with the local media at the time. When viewed today, it seems impossible for anyone to understand how dismissive the authorities and the public could be in regard to child exploitation. This film is a very true portrayal of the injustice that was done to Johnny and all missing children and how Maureen was vilified for speaking out about it on behalf of her son. This is an amazing story of how John Walsh and Noreen Gosch were strong enough and dedicated enough to turn a horrific personal tragedy into a crusade to protect all children so we as humans will finally put a stop to child sexual abuse and human trafficking.