TRAPPED

US, 1989, 93 minutes, Colour.
Kathleen Quinlan.
Directed by Fred Walton.

Trapped is a thriller about a big city skyscraper, co-written and directed by Fred Walton (When a Stranger Calls, April Fools Day). It has overtones of ecological pollution, deaths by accident and vengeance. However, many of these themes are not explained. The focus is on Kathleen Quinlan as Mary- Anne, an executive in charge of the development of the building who is trapped with a vengeful killer. The film spends a lot of time on atmosphere and fright rather than character development. It is an enjoyable telemovie - but is a short story, prolonged.

1.Enjoyable thriller? Atmosphere? Themes? Characters?

2.The city, the building, the detail of the offices, stairwells and lifts? The open area? The technology guarding a building? The special effects for stunt work, for fright? Editing and pace? Musical score?

3.The title and the overall focus of the film?

4.Kathleen Quinlan as Mary- Anne: her manner, dress, businesslike efficiency? Showing clients the building? Security? Her relationship with her friend? The audience learning about the building from her? The evening, the encounter with the executives? Leaving with her friend, wariness about security? Her staying, moving through the building, the death of her friend, the death of the security guards? The encounter with John, finding out who he was? The killer? Locked, out the window, saving herself? Working with John, the knife? The mystery of the intruder? His getting away? The aftermath of the experience and the night?

5.The credits, the photos, pollution, the headlines, death? The murderer and his planting explosive devices, controlling the building and its security? The deaths of the security guards? The stalking of Mary- Anne, the clashes with John? His injuries? The motivation behind his attacks?

6.John, industrial spy, in the building, clash with Mary -Anne, with the murderer? Stalking the murderer, getting away?

7.The friend, her work, support of Mary- Anne, sharing the searching, her sudden death?

8.The picture of the police, the investigations, the security guards?

9.Conventional thriller? The audience experiencing the sense of mystery and menace? How to react in such circumstances?