Without a Trace

Without a Trace

One morning, Alex Selky got dressed, waved goodbye to his mother, set off for school and disappeared.

Directed by Stanley R. Jaffe

Produced by 20th Century Fox

1983120 min5.4 / 10

A devastating true-crime drama centered on a mother's anguish and a detective's obsession following a child's inexplicable disappearance.

English professor Susan Selky lives alone in a Brooklyn apartment with her young son, Alex. When Alex fails to return home from school one afternoon, a frantic Selky contacts the police. Detective Al Menetti, a father himself, takes an interest in the case that quickly turns into an obsession. As a devastated Selky struggles to come to terms with Alex's disappearance, Menetti steps out from behind the badge to continue investigating.

Questions people ask

  • Is Without a Trace sad? Yes, very. More sad than 99% of films.

  • Is Without a Trace easy watching? Barely. Less comforting than 86% of films.

  • Does Without a Trace end with hope? Barely. Less hopeful than 80% of films.

  • Is Without a Trace scary? Not especially. Less frightening than 65% of films.

  • Is Without a Trace violent? Not especially. Less violent than 64% of films.

These describe how the film comes across, measured across the whole film and compared with other well-known films. They are not a content list — nothing here was counted or checked scene by scene, so for age-suitability or specific content use a classification board or a dedicated content-warning service.

14/ 100

Cinnamon Score

How much this film gives you that nothing else will, and whether it delivers.

Conventional, and it does not land.

Rarity45

How unlike any other film this one feels

Surprise4

How much more it delivers than it promises

Love7

How much audiences actually like it

The highest scores in the catalogue →

Ensemble

Like Without a Trace

Nearest across the full emotional profile.

Same Mood as Without a Trace

Nearest on what's most distinctive about this one.

Like Without a Trace, But Darker

Similar, pushed toward heavier and more intense.

Like Without a Trace, But Lighter

Similar, pushed toward warmer and easier.

Like Without a Trace, But Less Popular

Same territory, far fewer people have seen it.

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