PopHorror Let's Get Scared
I had the opportunity to view Skye Borgman’s documentary, Abducted in Plain Sight, for the 2018 Toronto True Crime Film Festival this past weekend. It took me a bit to soak it all in and write this review. This is an unbelievable but true story of a young girl named Jan Broberg. She was abducted – not once, but twice – by a sociopathic neighbor and family friend. The story is harrowing and won’t be one you forget. Read on to find out more.
Film Synopsis:
The twisting, turning, stranger-than-fiction true story of the Brobergs, a naive, church-going Idaho family that fell under the spell of a sociopathic neighbor with designs on their twelve-year-old daughter.
Abducted in Plain Sight captures this horrific ordeal in such a poignant manner. The Broberg clan is just like any family, maybe even your own. They are a tad on the naïve side, but I also believe the seventies were a different time. They lived in small town where you left doors unlocked and everyone was nice and neighborly. The Brobergs were unsuspecting victims of a sociopathic neighbor with an abnormal infatuation with their 12 year-old daughter, Jan. Joe Berchtold, know simply as B, not only charmed Jan, but he also worked his ways with her her parents to get to Jan.
The behaviors of B were of a textbook sociopath. He lacked any sense of moral responsibility or conscience. He was known as a pedophile by some in his past, including his own brother. He had a very unhealthy relationship with Jan. He brainwashed and used drugs to lure her away from her family, not once but twice. It is difficult to watch at times, but it is an important film to see. The film captivates the viewer and you feel everything right along with the Brobergs. I found myself completely enthralled and engrossed in Abducted in Plain Sight. While this is a terrible tragedy to the Brobergs, they handled it so well. They are not bitter about it one bit. While many would crumble, they are stronger and they serve as advocates to try and educate others to prevent this from happening again.
This film is a definite must see. I will warn you, it is difficult to watch at times. You can see how this could happen to anyone. Sociopaths are very good at what they do, and they can take over in a split second. You can relate to the Brobergs and really feel what they do. This sets it apart from other typical documentary style films. Abducted in Plain Sight is a remarkable and exceptional true crime film.
