They pay attention to the AMBER ALARM

This Friday, the story of an AMBER ALERT from writer/director Kerry Bellessa, Joshua Oram and Lionsgate hits theaters and on-demand.

Jaq (Hayden Panettiere) is late for a meeting downtown and the ride she ordered has decided to leave without her. As another driver's passengers depart, Jaq asks driver Shane (Tyler James Williams) if he would take another passenger. At first Shane isn't thrilled about the prospect, but Jaq is convinced and off they go.

Across town, at a local park, Monica (Katie McClellan) is in the park with her children. Charlotte (Ducky Cash) is playing hide and seek when a car slowly pulls up next to her. A moment later, Monica calls out to Charlotte and she is gone. Operator Cici (Saidah Arrika Ekulona) calls 9-1-1 and takes the car from a desperate Monica and takes it to Sgt. Casey (Kevin Dunn) posts an Amber Alert.

Jaq and Shane receive the notification on their phones and search for the information. Within minutes, a car in front of them catches Jaq's attention. She calls 9-1-1 and is also connected to Cici, who takes the information and thanks her for the call. Jaq can't shake the feeling that something is wrong with this car and convinces Shane to follow him. He's not sure this is all a good idea, let alone causing a little family drama.

When Jaq takes a look inside the car, she is more determined than ever to follow him. What comes next is an understanding between driver and passenger that pushes them to move on. When Charlotte's mother decides to intervene, Jaq and Shane know what they have to do. It's dangerous, but they know someone has to prevent what could come next!

Panettiere as Jaq is a woman who believes that following a car is not only right, but essential. Trying your best to convince Shane, a stranger, to follow him is difficult at first, but it gets easier with every mile that passes. Panettiere's portrayal is that of a woman who follows her instincts, even in a completely dangerous situation. Williams, while Shane drives for a living, and when Jaq convinces him to take another ride, he never imagined where it would take him. Williams brings a healthy dose of skepticism to his character, but there comes a personal moment where he knows he and Jaq aren't going to stop.

Ekulona as Cici takes the calls and tries to do what she can. There is also a shocking moment for Cici and Ekulona gives meaning to her role. Dunn as Sgt. Casey follows the clues and when Jaq calls, he begins to realize that the path to finding Charlotte lies through two strangers. McClellan as Monica is a mother dealing with the guilt of her child's kidnapping, but also a mother who will do whatever it takes to bring her child home.

Other cast members include Krus Valero as Simone, Sean Ramey as Truck Driver, Jeffery Croft II as Officer Jameson and Kurt Oberhaus as The Man.

Lionsgate is a global leader in film production and distribution for theater, television, home entertainment and more. Theater franchises include THE HUNGER GAMES and DIVERGENT as well as JOHN WICK. Now if you add this film to the 16,000 film and television titles, you can see everything coming soon, available now at http://www.lionsgate.com.

AMBER ALERT is a film that will resonate with every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle, and anyone who has a child in their life. We've been told time and time again that it only lasts a second and this movie proves that. Life is busier and more distracting than ever before and with cell phones that second of distraction can be cut in half. The Amber Alert was introduced in 1997 when 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was kidnapped. Since then, the world has come to understand the sound the warning makes on our cell phones and on illuminated highway signs.

The film is also an intense thriller that had me screaming at the screen a few times. This is probably the mother-grandmother reaction in me expressed in full force, and I'm okay with it. That's what a film about such a sensitive subject should do: it should provoke a reaction that stays with viewers for quite some time after the film ends. Panettiere and Williams take us on the journey, convey the message of the film and it works.

In the end, two strangers are their only hope!