Review:
The tension begins in the first few minutes
of this movie and it never lets up. Jessica
(Kim Bassinger) is kidnapped right out of
the kitchen in her beautiful Brentwood home.
She is stashed in an attic and the kidnappers
smash the only phone in the room. Jessica
is a science teacher, so she patiently works
with the phone until she is randomly connected
with a stranger. Bryan (Chris Evans) thinks
the call is a joke until he hears someone
come into the room with Jessica and threaten
her. He takes the phone to a police station,
but he can't get any help and his signal is
low. He has trouble getting a new battery
charger, losing the signal, rescuing Jessica's
son before he is also kidnapped, and generally
trying to figure out how to save this woman
before she is killed. Mooney (William H. Macy)
is the one police officer that tries to help
Bryan put all the pieces of his story together.
This movie is very intense from start to finish.
Jessica's entire family is threatened by something
her husband has. Her safety at home has been
compromised and her son's safety at school
is in question. She is terrified throughout
the film and her son is kidnapped, now also
in danger of being killed. Characters are
killed, one of them by the mother in front
of the child. There is some language, violence,
and a lot of terror. Although the movie is
well done, it may be too emotionally frightening
for most children. The basic family unit is
attacked in places where they feel the most
secure. You might discuss what Jessica's husband
could have done to prevent all this from happening.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.
Linda has been a lover of movies
since she was a small child. This
love of film eventually brought
her to the point in life where
she is now, a film critic. She
was featured on WCCO radio for
three years on the “Dark
in the Morning” show with
Dark Star.
In December of 2001, Linda became
the film critic for the syndicated
“Ruth Koscielak Show”.
Linda sees over 150 movies a
year and has had the opportunity
to interview a number of directors
and actors when they are in town.
She has also appeared on a public
access show called the "Cinema
Judge" and has ventured into
writing for "Cinestar"
magazine in September 2002. The
Twin Cities movie magazine is
available, for free, at most local
Blockbuster's and local movie
cheaters.
As one of the few female reviewers
in the Twin Cities area, she brings
a unique point of view to her
reviews. Linda has raised two
children, a boy and a girl, and
knows what they like in movies
and what is appropriate. Hopefully,
her reviews will help your family
in choosing where to next spend
your movie-going dollar.
Linda
Thomas is a native Minnesotan. She
graduated from the University of
Minnesota with a double major in
sociology and psychology. Married
with a family, she has remained
in the Minneapolis area.