Taken in Plain Sight ending explained: who kidnapped Zooey and why?

The unexpected conclusion of the Lifetime drama Taken in Plain Sight challenges viewers' preconceived notions regarding Zooey's disappearance. The storyline centres on Abby Anderson, a mother whose teenage daughter, Zooey, disappears while travelling by car. Abby's resolve drives her to learn the truth about her daughter's kidnapping despite a police inquiry that has stopped, and the outcome is much more sinister than anybody could have predicted.

Starring Tennille Read, Allegra Fulton, Steven Yaffee, Sameer Jafar, and others, the film is directed by Cat Hostick and is based on a script by Ken Miyamoto.

Abby begins to suspect Douglas Leto, a man whose actions and enigmatic maps make her think he is the kidnapper, throughout the movie.  

But by the end of the movie, Abby Anderson finds another girl whom the kidnapper abducted in addition to her daughter, Zooey. Since the kidnapper turns out to be someone she befriends at a support group meeting, the movie's title is fitting.

Taken in Plain Sight -The Shocking Reality of the Cabin

Abby discovers the shocking reality as she follows the hints to a secluded cabin. Zooey and Emma, another missing girl, are found there; they are both traumatised but alive. The truth is revealed in this heated exchange: Douglas was abducted by Dolores while he was a little boy, and she brainwashed him into thinking she had rescued him from a violent household. By persuading him that these kidnappings were acts of protection rather than crimes, she persuaded him to assist her in "rescuing" more children throughout the years.

Taken in Plain Sight -Who Really Kidnapped Zooey — and Why

Dolores abducted Zooey, and Douglas was her reluctant ally. Dolores's perverted rescuer complex was the root of her motivation. By using Douglas as a vehicle, she continued her delusional goal of protecting children from uncaring homes. Unfortunately, Zooey was left unsupervised at a rest stop for a short while and ended up being one of her "rescued" targets.

Taken in Plain Sight - A Bittersweet Ending

Abby confronts Dolores in a terrifying escape sequence in the closing moments. In desperation, Dolores shoots at Abby's automobile, but Abby overwhelms her. When the police show up just in time, they arrest Dolores and Douglas and save Emma and Zooey. Abby and Zooey's heartbreaking reunion at the end of the movie serves as a reminder of both the darkness that can lurk behind a pleasant exterior and a mother's unwavering battle for her child.

Taken in Plain Sight premiered on Lifetime and is also available on Netflix.