I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) poster & wallpaper
Get movie widget Recommend it Add to Favorites

Andrew Amador, Todd Eric Andrews, John Ashton, Al Berry, Barry Corbin ... see more see more... , Michael Chieffo , Bryan Cranston , Raymond Cruz , Scott Curtis , John de Mita , Darcy de Moss , Stephen Dorff , Luke Edwards , June C. Ellis , Dennis Fimple , William Frankfather , Alan Fudge , Jacob Gelman , Peter Michael Goetz , Wendy Gordon , Beth Grant , Jim Haynie , Gregg Henry , Brenda Hillhouse , Shannon Holt , Arliss Howard , James Ingersoll , Tiiu Leek , Gregory "Mars" Martin , Pamela McMyler , Corin Nemec , Annie O'Donnell , Amy O'Neill , Jeff Olson , Cindy Pickett , Jason Presson , Harold Pruett , Scott Reeves , Whitney Rydbeck , Barbara Tarbuck , Natividad Vacio , Vance Valencia , Pruitt Taylor Vince , John Vickery , Stephanie Walski , Ray Walston , Jonathan Perpich , Robert Balderson , Allison Mack , Kim Maxwell , Shane McCabe , Robina Suwol , Karl Wiedergott , David C. Glasser , Lyla Graham , Dave Adams , Cassy Friel

Based on a true story, the two-part TV movie I Know My First Name Is Steven tells the tragic story of Steven Stayner. At age seven, Steven was kidnapped by two men who held him captive in a tiny shed ... read more read more...for seven years. One of the men, a habitual child abuser named Kenneth Parnell, sexually assaulted Steven on an almost daily basis during the boy's ordeal. At age 14, Steven finally was able to escape and return to his family. But we are shown that Steven's safe return was far from the happy ending it appeared to be. He's forced to adjust to a family he'd never really known, to convince himself that his parents had never forgotten him, and to put his seven-year hell behind him. While I Know My First Name Is Steven ends on an upbeat note, the real Stayner died in a motorcycle accident only a few months after this film was first telecast in May 1989. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Flixster Users

84% liked it

1,093 ratings

Unrated, 3 hr. 5 min.

Directed by: Larry Elikann

Release Date: May 22, 1989

Invite friends to see

Stats: 102 reviews

report incorrect info

Photos

I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) "That's him." I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) Steven saving Timmy White Steven about to be abducted Steven registering to his new school Teenage Steven's friend find out something Abducted "WIll you testify against him?" Steven tries to call his real dad Steven with his high school sweetheart "I know my first name is Steven." Home again Steven's last day at home Steven saying goodbye to his dog
Upload a Photo | View All I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) Photos

Your Rating


clear rating

Flixster Reviews (102)

  • BenRogers84
    August 14, 2011
    BenRogers84
    Not overly boring but not overly entertaining or interesting either. This would have been better if it weren't a Tv movie, because all the dramatic moments were cut off for commercials.Most of the characters seemed kinda half baked and under developed except for the nasty pedophi... read morele. They showed more of his personality than anyone else in the whole movie during the first half. I do think that Corin Nemec did a great job during the second half of the movie playing the older steven. His struggle with trying to get used to his family again and his constant bulling at school really show off his acting chops. All in all this is a good time waster for a couple hours when you have nothing else to watch and want to see a lifetime movie from the 80s but that's about it. This movie sorta focuses on blaming the parents for the Steven's abduction and almost makes the sickening nerdy pedophile as almost a savior that takes care of him and don't go into showing how much of an absolute monster he is. They also play down the actual rape and molestation of the victim and show him act as if he has no bad feelings towards the man who abused him for close to 7 years. Looking back on this, it seems way too Tv movie stupid to be taken seriously.
  • ParanormalAngel
    November 3, 2010
    ParanormalAngel
    It was an excellent movie! A good movie to watch with children and a great discussion opener of kidnapping and talking with strangers.
  • stevenhoheneder
    November 25, 2009
    stevenhoheneder
    It's the kind of movie that I want to teach my own kids reg: stranger danger and amongst family offenders.
  • StaisilD
    June 22, 2008
    StaisilD
    This film revolves around the true story that begins in 1972 with the abduction of seven-year-old Steven Stayner, who was snatched on his way home from school by a known paedophile Kenneth Parnell. Steven was then kept as the man's son for seven years and forced for endure system... read moreatical sexual abuse at the hands of his kidnapper. He finally managed to escape when Parnell abducted a five-year-old boy whom Steven was determined would not suffer as he had. However, upon his return to his real family-- who never gave up that he would be reunited with them one day-- Steven found it hard to adjust as he had no understanding of what it was to be part of a loving family. It was horrifying to see what little was actually done to either help Steven, as not only when he did try to tell a teacher of his abduction, he was accused of lying and being ungrateful but Parnell was able to freely go from town-to-town with a child who was not his own and with no-one challenging this. This film depicts both the trauma Steven faces as he grew up in such horrifying circumstances and the grief of the parents he left behind but it also shows the courage of the Stayners, who all remained strong through everything. Corin Nemec is truly magnificent as Steven. He makes the movie come alive and makes you want to watch the truly brilliant film.
  • jolac9677
    November 23, 2007
    jolac9677
    An emotional look into the life of a kidnapped child. This movie was well-written and well-directed. Corin Nemec's greatest performance.
  • keithandthen
    November 12, 2007
    keithandthen
    This movie is SOOOOOO fantastic! It's a very SAD story, but sometimes you just have to watch a movie that it serious, sad, and honest. I couldn't even imagin what Steven went through as a child, and I am glad that I can't. If anyone knows where I can get this dvd, let me know ... read moreplease! Thanks
  • wrinkleraisin
    October 16, 2007
    wrinkleraisin
    It is sad that this movie was based on a true story, but I think no other movie based on the life and death of Steven Staner could compare to what this movie told, especially with the great performance given by Corin Nemec. And it's so eerie to know, even though it is not mention... read moreed in the movie at all, that Steven's brother in real life was a serial killer.
  • javengiamaqt
    May 15, 2007
    javengiamaqt
    The movie is good, but I read the book first, So I think the book was actually better then the movie. Too bad it's based on a true story:(
  • letlet6801
    March 29, 2007
    letlet6801
    Very sad because it was based on a true event. Sadly Steven had to die....or was it...Maybe for him it was peace he longed for
  • slacksey88
    March 23, 2007
    slacksey88
    A good film and a true story. I think it was interesting how the abducted child adapted to living with the man who kidnapped him. What is noteworthy here is that Steven Stayner's brother in real life turned out to be serial killer. I bet if you know of this movie, you didn't kno... read morew that?

View All I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) Reviews

Critic Reviews

No recent reviews.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Cast

More Like This

Click a thumb to vote on that suggestion, or add your own suggestions.

  • In Defense of Kids
    In Defense of Kids (0%)
  • Shattered Mind (The Terror Inside)
    Shattered Mind (The Terror Inside) (0%)
  • A Child Lost Forever: The Jerry Sherwood Story
    A Child Lost Forever: The Jerry Sherwood Stor... (100%)
  • The Lost Child
    The Lost Child (100%)

More Movies like I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years)

Facts

No facts approved yet. Be the first

I Know My First N... : Watch Free on TV

I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) Trivia

Movie Quizzes

No quizzes for I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years). Want to create one?

Video Clips

No video clips yet. Want to upload one?

Meet Other Fans

Add I Know My First Name Is Steven (The Missing Years) to favorites

Recent News

No recent headlines. Got one?

Recent Lists

Make a List |

View All Lists

Most Popular Skin

No skins yet. Interested in creating one?