Trapped

Trapped was actually released in the late eighties, although it's every bit the seventies exploitation classic! While not as great as some of the more popular films of the genre - stuff like The Last House on the Left and House on the Edge of the Park, Trapped is still an enjoyable slice of violent entertainment from the director of the surprisingly good 'House by the Lake' and the Psycho-inspired Funeral Home. The film focuses on the idea of people in the deep south of America taking the law very much into their own hands. The main culprit is Henry Chatwill; a man who is spotted murdering someone by a bunch of college students. He quickly decides to put his cronies to use in tracking down the college students; one of which, a kid called Roger Michaels, just happens to completely against violence in all forms. The first half hour or so is fairly torrid, as it can be difficult to tell exactly what's going on since it's not pieced together very well. However, things really pick up in the final two thirds; and it all builds to a fantastically entertaining ending, which features a couple of rather original death scenes! Naturally, Trapped isn't particularly well acted or directed - although William Fruet's work behind the camera isn't too bad considering the obvious budget limitations. Once you get past the first half hour, there's a lot of fun to be had with Trapped, and it comes recommended to trash fans everywhere!

Trapped (1982)

** 1/2 (out of 4)

TRAPPED takes a look at a group of mountain men and their "laws." Henry Chatwill (Henry Silva) catches a welfare worker sleeping with his wife so he decides justice is to tar and feather the man. It doesn't stop here because he then kills the man not realizing that there are four college students in the woods who witnessed it. Now Henry must talk his people into tracking down the witnesses and killing them.

After the huge success of DELIVERANCE we got all sorts of "hicksploitation" pictures where we went into the woods and learned about these back country people. TRAPPED, also known as BAKER COUNTY, U.S.A. is another in the long line of films that attempt to show us what mountain people do for their justice. There are a lot of good moments throughout the film but at the same time there are quite a few flaws. With that being said, the amount of nudity makes it an exploitation dream.

I must say that director William Fruet managed to fit a lot of stuff into this 95-minute movie. I say that because there was a point where I thought the film was nearing the end and was somewhat shocked to see that there was still another half hour to go. The first fifty-minutes of the movie features the type of sleaze and redneck violence that you'd expect and it does keep you entertained. I thought the film had a very good set-up and the locations were another major plus. The problem with the film is the rating bad timing and the fact that the rather weak story gets dragged out quite a bit.

With that being said, there are still a lot of good things about the picture including the performances. I thought the entire cast were quite good in their roles but of course it's Silva who stands out as the redneck leader who is a tad bit on the crazy side. As I previously said, the locations used are another major bonus as it does make for a nice atmosphere. If you like nudity then there's plenty of full frontal ladies on display and the style of violence here is quite interesting to say the least. Including the tar and fearthering!

TRAPPED has a lot of flaws to it but if you're a fan of "hicksploitation" genre then it's worth checking out.

The film stars Henry Silva as a country bumpkin who catches the power repairman having sex with his wife. He kills him, as a bunch of college kids (headed by Nicholas Campbell) witness to the killing. Campbell doesn't believe in violence, but finally realize he must battle Silva with a chainsaw. Fruet is Roger Corman of Canada give the same slick style of directing as he did in HOUSE BY THE LAKE. The films photography is dark, and the script pace is very slow. It's worth a look for those who like to see Canadian tax shelter films.

Of course, as I have already said since many years, DELIVERANCE, back in 1972, opened the way to many survival thrillers, in the wilderness, where city folks had to encounter all kinds of dangers fighting against the unavoidable local red necks. You had tons and tons of films like this one from the mid seventies till.... Even now, in 2025. But the bulk was during the eighties, and involved lousy exploitation - Grindhouse - or more or less psychotronic material. The best of them all being Walter Hill's SOUTHERN COMFORT. A pure masterpiece. More or less interesting, powerful, but never for the intellectuals anyway. Here, you have Hank Silva in a role that suits him like a glove. He died a couple of years ago and was the villain co starring Audie Murphy in the late fifties, till Forrest Whitaker or Steven Seagal in the eighties and nineties: GHOST DOG and ABOVE THE LAW. And I don't even speak of movies produced in France where he co starred the likes of Michel Constantin, Andre Pousse or Marcel Bozzuffi: L'INSOLENT, LES HOMMES. So, back to this film, it's typical of William Fruet, whose filmography reminds me William Lustig or Lewis Teague's one. Good survival chiller in the line of DELIVERANCE.

Four college students looking for a cave, stray into a Tennessee hollow inhabited by sadistic Henry Silva, and his backwoods clan. After witnessing a murder, the four are relentlessly hunted in the woods. The fact that the local sheriff is kinfolk, makes the situation even more desperate. Silva provides a strong presence as the villain controlling a nice assortment of barefoot babes, and hairy knuckle types. The film features sharp editing, creative photography, and appropriate twangy music. With the outcome always in doubt, interest is maintained throughout. Along with "Hunter's Blood", "Trapped" is a "Deliverance" clone that comes highly recommended. - MERK