Overview Taken (2008), directed by Pierre Morel and written by Luc Besson and Robert Mark Kamen, is a tightly-paced action-thriller built around a simple, high-stakes premise: a retired CIA operative uses a narrow set of skills to rescue his kidnapped daughter from an international trafficking ring. The film’s brisk 90-minute runtime delivers relentless momentum, clear stakes, and a central performance that anchors the narrative.