Trapped *** (2002, Kevin Bacon, Charlize Theron, Courtney Love, Stuart Townsend) – Classic Movie Review 1754

Director Luis Mandoki’s 2002 thriller stars Kevin Bacon, Courtney Love and Pruitt Taylor Vince as Hickey, Cheryl and Marvin, scumbag lowlifes who make an unhealthy living kidnapping kids for the ransom money. But they meet their match in their latest victims, resourceful parents Karen and Will Jennings (Charlize Theron and Stuart Townsend), when they snatch their little daughter Abby(Dakota Fanning).

After a gripping first hour, this well-acted, handsomely produced, slick thriller unfortunately gets ever sillier, going into frenzied overdrive, before finally settling down again for a slap-up climax. Nevertheless, it is tense and suspenseful, and entertaining overall.

Bacon does one of his sizzling villain acts again, Theron sizzles too and Vince adds plenty of oddball interest. But Townsend is unbelievable as a smart American doctor.

Greg Iles fashions the screenplay from his own novel 24 Hours. Note to thriller writers: too many twists spoil the plot.

There are 13 credited producers: unlucky for some, maybe!

Townsend as cast as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) but was replaced by Viggo Mortensen after four days of shooting. He made three movies with his fiancée Charlize Theron: Trapped (2002), Head in the Clouds (2004) and Æon Flux (2005). She thanked him in her Oscar acceptance speech (2004). They split in January 2010 after nine years together.

© Derek Winnert 2014 Classic Movie Review 1754

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