Trapped (1982)

Memorable, crazy movie

Highly Overrated But Still Good

All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

One of the worst ways to make a cult movie is to set out to make a cult movie.

Well let's call it by it's other name, Trapped. Now, being part of the Palace Explosive Video group, you may well be expecting gory and disturbing violence, which you will run very short of. But of course this doesn't make Trapped bad. It's a well made and put together movie, with a stellar performance by bad man, Henry Silva. Opening with a beautiful nudity shot, with him and a very young philly he disrobes, this is just an establishing scene. The simple plot, has a scenario, used in many other horror in the woods flicks. Four young campers, led by a Nicholas Campbell (an actor who I really like, who really puts in a strong performance here) witnesses a murder at the hands of jealous lover, Silva, where the victim tarred and feathered, prefore, was doing Silva's hot blonde misses. I really liked Campbell's character. He's strong willed and likable. Now with these young co-eds putting a spanner in Silva's works (Campbell, a overzealous and a passionate campaigner against murder, think Michael Biehn in Rampage, also starring Campbell), this ups the suspense, with the hillbilly hunters, and the hunted you, where others too, entering the picture, have to be sacrificed. Soon soon poor Silva is abandoned, on his own, which warrants howling cheer, among us audience. Trapped is very believable, and in it's own way, borrows from Deliverance and Southern Comfort, though of course, isn't a perfect film, and isn't in their league, this of course, not being mainstream too. But this is a better put together film, than you expect it to be. A couple of the film's moments lack, or lose their edge. They don't work. But also, don't judge a movie by it's cover, especially one so nasty. Music score is perfect.

Aw, why did they opt for "Trapped" to be the official title, whereas "Baker County, USA" is such a unique and wondrously ominous title for a movie handling about psychopathic Tennessee rednecks! There are about fifty movies called "Trapped"! There's one with security-trained Dobermans keeping a guy inside a shopping complex and another one with Kevin Bacon hijacking a woman and her asthmatic daughter, so do you honestly want to mix up those lame plot outlines with a movie about lunatic yokels hunting down a bunch of college students? Baker County, USA … all the way! Enough nagging about titles, especially since we call the films whatever we want, anyway. This stuff is terrific! It's an early 80's and Canadian produced Indie-film with character drawings and themes that were especially popular during the decade of the 70's, namely crazed clodhoppers living in private mountain-communities and brutal blood-vengeance. Henry Silva, who played in numerous Italian cop thrillers and action flicks, was never cast better as a tyrant leader of a small mountain colony that swears by its own ancient system of law and order. Silva's naturally menacing charisma and particularly perpetrating stares make him one the most nightmarishly memorable backwoods villains ever! The first half hour revolves on Henry and his docile men playing the roles judge, jury and executioner on an outsider who was caught having sex with Henry's beautiful but bored wife. Four college students camping in the remote hills witness the assassination of the man covered in tar and feathers, but when they try and notify the police they quickly discover everybody the entire area is petrified of mad-raving Henry. "Baker County, USA" is splendidly fast-paced and grimly atmospheric 80's trash effort. It's more than obviously inspired by classics such as "Deliverance" (there even is the banjo soundtrack!), but there are more than enough original elements to distinguish itself as well. The exterior filming locations are sublime (the opening sequence is astounding), there's an admirable portion of suspense and the action/death sequences are quite spectacular and bloody. The climax in particular is a gripping mixture of tension and extreme violence, resulting in quite the fireworks ending! Noteworthy also is that the youthful campers are actually likable characters, for once. They try to do the right thing, don't make overly stupid decisions and don't try to play heroes. Their behavior is plausible and most likely how everyone would react when facing a toothless mob with pitchforks and barrels full of hot tar. William Fruet directed this hidden gem and always treasured a deep admiration for his work, since he accomplishes quite a lot with a minimum of budget. Admittedly, "Spasms" was one of the worst pieces of crap I ever saw, but "Funeral Home" and "House by the Lake" are definitely low-budget highlights.

In 1982 in South Africa we purchased the distribution rights for the above mentioned movie...on...video. A racy, fast moving thriller advanced for its time and great entertainment.This movie in South Africa on video was a smash hits and still continues to be requested by movie viewers here. A hill billy plot with an ending that leaves the viewers breathless is and was great entertainment. The picture did go down very well with the South African movie public,notwithstanding that we had extremely harsh censorship laws governing us. A lot of thanks to Henry Silver and Nicholas Campble. I would certainly like to be able to market this movie once again in South Africa.

This is a brutal movie about backwoods hillpeople who live according to their own laws. Their leader, Henry Silva at his unpleasant and sadistic best, takes the law in his own hands and lead a mob to hunt down his wife´s lover. Violent complications follow. The story is unoriginal but captivating and Fruet´s no holds barred directing keep a good pace throughout the entire movie. The dialogue is good and amusing. There is nudity, banjo music, humiliation, plenty of man hunt scenes and bloody violence. Highly recommended viewing for fans of Deliverance and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.