Trapped (2002)

18% of critics liked it
(56 reviews)
55% of users liked it
(20,933 ratings)

A mother is caught in a race against time to save her child in this taut suspense thriller. Dr. Will Jennings (Stuart Townsend) and his wife, Karen (Charlize Theron), find their world has been turned upside down when they're taken hostage and held in different cities while their young daughter is… More A mother is caught in a race against time to save her child in this taut suspense thriller. Dr. Will Jennings (Stuart Townsend) and his wife, Karen (Charlize Theron), find their world has been turned upside down when they're taken hostage and held in different cities while their young daughter is kidnapped by the same band of ruthless criminals. Joe Hickey (Kevin Bacon) has hatched a seemingly foolproof plan with his wife, Cheryl (Courtney Love), and cousin, Marvin (Pruitt Taylor Vince): while Dr. Jennings and Mrs. Jennings are under guard and unable to contact the police, Hickey will demand a massive ransom for the return of their daughter. If the payment is not arranged in 24 hours, the girl will be killed. Will and Karen realize it's imperative that they find their daughter as soon as possible, as she suffers from a medical condition that could claim her life if she doesn't receive her medication within a day, but as Karen plots a way to get away from Joe and rescue her little girl, she discovers money isn't the only reason Joe has chosen the Jenningses as his victims. Trapped was based on the novel 24 Hours by Greg Iles; 24 Hours was also announced as the film's title before it was changed to avoid being confused with the popular television series 24. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: R, 1 hr. 41 min.
Directed By: Luis Mandoki
Written By: Greg Iles, Don Roos
Genres: Drama, Action & Adventure, Mystery & Suspense

In Theaters: Sep 20, 2002 Wide
On DVD: Dec 24, 2002
Studio: Columbia Pictures

Critic Reviews

Dennis Lim, Village Voice
Brisk hack job.
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly
The movie is a negligible work of manipulation, an exploitation piece doing its usual worst to guilt-trip parents.
Geoff Pevere, Toronto Star
Indifferently implausible popcorn programmer of a movie.
Jan Stuart, Newsday
Not really bad so much as distasteful: We need kidnapping suspense dramas right now like we need doomsday thrillers.
Kenneth Turan, Los Angeles Times
True to its title, it traps audiences in a series of relentlessly nasty situations that we would pay a considerable ransom not to be looking at.
Stephen Cole, Globe and Mail
There is no pleasure in watching a child suffer. Just embarrassment and a vague sense of shame.
Michael Dequina, TheMovieReport.com
The manner in which this film flies completely off the rails is undoubtedly amusing, but its also disappointing, considering the fair competence of all that came before.
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com
I don't mind admitting that the movie, for me, became about Courtney Love. That's the effect she has...
Mark Collette, Tyler Morning Telegraph (Texas)
... so many directions with so much silliness that a surprise no longer surprises.
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
Nada poderia preparar o público para o caos que toma conta da produção em seu ato final, que, aparentemente, foi escrito enquanto o roteirista encontrava-se bêbado.
Harry Guerin, RTE Interactive (Dublin, Ireland)
It comes off as so silly that you wouldn't be surprised if BA, Murdock and rest of the A-Team were seen giving chase in a black and red van.
Scott Weinberg, eFilmCritic.com
I'm half-convinced it's a very poker-faced comedy. Then again, I may be giving the filmmakers way too much credit.

Read all 12 critic 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)

Featured Audience Ratings

Cynthia S

Well acted, well casted thriller about a kidnapping of a little girl that was carried out more creatively than most. The movie immediately draws you into it and you feel almost feel like you are in it. Bacon was fantastic as the bad guy coupled with a very good performance by Theron.
Bruce B

Have seen this film more then once. Its a good film but one only needs to see it once/ A very young Dakota Fanning in this one. Kevin Bacon plays the ultimate psycho kidnapper. And Courtney Love is a take charge Bit*ch who knows how to kick As*. Plenty of suspense but only needs to… More
Have seen this film more then once. Its a good film but one only needs to see it once/ A very young Dakota Fanning in this one. Kevin Bacon plays the ultimate psycho kidnapper. And Courtney Love is a take charge Bit*ch who knows how to kick As*. Plenty of suspense but only needs to be watched one time, it just loses valve to more it is watched. A good one to add to the collection in case someone comes over and hasn't seen it. 3 1/2 stars.
Nicki M

Decent thriller spoiled by a ridiculous ending. Would have been a lot better without the crashing cars and explosions. The whole cast (with the exception of a weak Stuart Townsend), are good in this - even Courtney Love, to my surprise. Dakota Fanning, excellent as always and Kevin… More
Decent thriller spoiled by a ridiculous ending. Would have been a lot better without the crashing cars and explosions. The whole cast (with the exception of a weak Stuart Townsend), are good in this - even Courtney Love, to my surprise. Dakota Fanning, excellent as always and Kevin Bacon pretty good in this one. Would have been a four star movie if they hadn't gone totally over the top at the end.
Dean !

Kevin Bacon stars in another tense thriller along side the beautiful Charlize Theron.
Leigh R

Thriller of thrillers. Great ride...
Dean M

Good thrilling with the crime of kidnapping.
Dannielle A

This was a really sick and twisted movie. Everyone who was a part of this movie is psychosexual. The movie would have been a phenomenal thriller without the weird aspect of the killer and his wife wanting to screw the kidnapped child's parents.
Steven V

Love the beginning. The premise of the movie is set up beautifully, tightly, but a garbled ending with too many plot lines begun in the last third of the movie dooms the project. It dissipates interest when a director arbitrarily introduces motives that had not been foreshadowed.… More
Love the beginning. The premise of the movie is set up beautifully, tightly, but a garbled ending with too many plot lines begun in the last third of the movie dooms the project. It dissipates interest when a director arbitrarily introduces motives that had not been foreshadowed. Competent actors in what is eventually a lifeless vehicle, despite the chase, collisions, smoke and noise.
Audrey L

An excellent thriller.Courtney Love really can act! Kevin bacon is stellar as the bad guy.