Trapped

Backwoods adventure-terror in Tennessee with Henry Silva

A rigid patriarch in Appalachia (Silva) carries out justice in his small community in the hills while several college youths visit the area to camp and hike. What could go wrong?

“Trapped” (1982), aka “Baker County, USA” (with “Chatwill’s Verdict” being the working title), is an adventure/thriller involving a brush with barbaric yokels. It comes in the wake of "I Walk the Line" (1970), “Deliverance” and “Rituals.” “Bullies” came out several years later and was no doubt inspired by it.

Danone Camden stands out in the female department as Amy. There’s also Gina Dick (Diana), Joy Thompson (Caroline) and a backwoods woman featured in the intro who’s uncredited.

I’m not sure why this is so obscure because it delivers the goods for this type of flick with authentic locations/sets and a dynamic climax. Maybe it’s because it’s a Canadian production and lacks the star power of the cast of “Deliverance.”

The movie runs 1 hour, 33 minutes, and was shot in Clayton, Georgia, which is an hour or two drive from southeast Tennessee, where the events take place.

GRADE: B+/A-