‘The Fakenapping’ (2025) Netflix Movie Review - A Quick, Funny Watch

So, as the name suggests, yes, you guessed it right, this is a case of fake kidnapping. The story centers around Sattam, who is also a struggling father and a failed entrepreneur who has numerous debts in his name. That is when he comes up with a mind-blowing plan: to fake kidnap his own father and extract money as ransom from the rest of the family.  The family knows that it is he who kidnapped the father. The funny part is that he takes help from his friends, who are equally as clueless as he is. With the loan shark dancing on top of their heads, the entire movie is nothing but a comedy of errors. The rest of the film deals with just ill-fated choices these people make in order to get the money, which wasn’t even decided in the first place.

So while again, the plot is highly predictable, the movie is still fun to watch. It offers you a lot to laugh at without feeling bored. The actual fun starts once the fake kidnapping is done. The entire so-called “negotiations” are what make the entire plot worth watching.  At the same time, in between all these fun banters, the makers have shown the struggle that Sattam, as a father, is undergoing. I do understand the entire plot was pretty guessable due to its name, but there are some twists and turns that the makers kept for us to watch and understand. The biggest twist for me was kidnapping one’s own father. I first thought they would kidnap someone else and return the person. But no, they end up kidnapping the father for money. That makes everything even more hilarious.

The cast has done a great job with their amazing comic timings. For example, Mohammed Aldokhie, Yazid Almajyul, Abdulaziz Al  Skireen, and the rest of the cast do justice to their roles. Meanwhile, the guest appearance by footballer Saeed Al-Owairan is the cherry on top.

All in all, this is a full-on entertainment pack. Not once do you feel bored while watching it. It is quick, lasting only one hour, twenty-five minutes as its run time. That adds up to the intrigue while watching it. Even the pacing is fast, which ensures that this isn’t boring at all.

Also, it had been a while since I watched something from Saudi Arabia. So this movie was also a welcome watch from the Middle East. It was fun to watch their entertainment industry, and what better way to watch it than via comedy. I hope Netflix does release more of its content in other genres, too.

So if you wish to watch something nice, sweet, and fun for the weekend that is coming, feel free to watch “The Fakenapping.” It will leave you with good memories and a time filled with laughter due to its plot, execution, and acting.

Final Score- [7/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Ch
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times