Trapped (2002) starring Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend, Kevin Bacon, Pruitt Taylor Vince, Dakota Fanning directed by Luis Mandoki Movie Review

Trapped (2002)   3/53/53/53/53/5


Pruitt Taylor Vince as Marvin in Trapped (2002)

Courtney Loves Sliced Bacon

There is little about "Trapped" which sounds that original, kidnappers take a young girl hostage holding her to ransom as they demand $250,000. And to be frank how "Trapped" plays out isn't that original either as we have moments of drama and a big action climax as everything comes to ahead. But what that doesn't tell you is that despite ending up ordinary "Trapped" has some good ideas, a twist on the motive and a timeline which is just 24 hours. It is just a shame that the bits of "Trapped" which are good end up being swallowed up in a lot of ordinary.

Having seen her husband Will (Stuart Townsend - The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen) off as he heads to speak at a conference Karen (Charlize Theron) returns home with their asthmatic daughter Abby (Dakota Fanning) but shortly after getting home Abby is kidnapped being taken by Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince - Nurse Betty) to a cabin in the woods whilst partner in crime Hickey (Kevin Bacon) stays holding Karen at gunpoint. At the same time Hickey's wife Cheryl (Courtney Love - Man on the Moon) holds Will hostage in his hotel room as the trio of kidnappers have a fool proof plan which they have practiced on other families except they didn't bargain for Karen, Will and Abby not playing ball.

Charlize Theron and Dakota Fanning in Trapped (2002)

For the most "Trapped" is a routine kidnap movie where a child is taken and the parents try to outsmart the kidnappers to get her back. As such there is a lot which is predictable from Karen trying to over power Hickey to young Abby trying to escape from Marvin. And of course being a typical kidnap movie all of this comes together in a big action packed finale.

But unfortunately the elements to "Trapped" which are a little more clever end up being engulfed in what is a lot of ordinary. The idea of having 3 kidnappers holding each member of the family in a different location is clever and having it play out over a 24 hour period is also clever. But then these clever ideas end up engulfed by something ordinary such as Will over powering Cheryl and getting inside her head. Basically there is a lot which is predictable and what could have been unique is also heavily telegraphed.

Now there are some typically good performances, Kevin Bacon is edgy as Hickley whilst Charlize Theron is strong as Karen and Dakota Fanning despite being so young is brilliant as young Abby especially when it comes to doing terrified. But the real stand out performance comes from Pruitt Taylor Vince as Marvin giving him real character elements from being uneasy when Abby cries, making him a little simple but also making him kind even child like. It is such a good performance and the scene between Vince and Fanning are some of the movie's best.

What this all boils down to is that "Trapped" is sadly just another kidnap movie despite having some interesting ideas. It is worth watching but more for the performances especially Pruitt Taylor Vince's rather than for anything else.


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