MovieChat Forums > Trapped (2002) Discussion > Mixed Motives?

Mixed Motives?

posted 20 years ago by sigsky
13 replies | jump to latest

Just watched the movie which I enjoyed but I am confused about the motive for the kidnapping. If the true motive was revenge for the death of the kidnappers' daughter, what was the point of the alleged first 4 kidnappings. I didn't have this problem when I read the book but I am not sure why. I guess I was convinced that this was actually the first kidnapping and the others were made up by the kidnappers to make them seem more threatening. The beginning of the movie made it obvious that they had done it before.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] sigsky 20 years ago

That makes sense. Good point!

[–] Illusion-XIII 20 years ago

That doesn't really add up, because in the other four kidnappings, the child was returned safely to the parents. Joey said so at the beginning, and in case you thought he was lying, Marvin and Cheryl both reiterated this fact, and the fact that this time it was different. If the other four doctors (and Karen only theorized that the other 4 were doctors. Joey never really confirmed that) had been responsible for Katy's death, then there's no reason why Joey & Co. would have let the other 4 children live and return to their families.
My suspicion is that the other 4 kidnappings were done in preparation for this one. You could call them "trial runs", with the added benefit that they made $250 thousand for each one. Once they'd rounded out their million, Joey planned to hit the real target, this time for revenge.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] i_am_here 20 years ago

My opinion, for what it's worth.....

The motive for the four previous kidnappings was money.

However, the true motive for kidnapping Abby is more confusing. Towards the end of the story it is indicated that Joe intended to keep Abby as a replacement for his dead daughter Katie - a gift for Cheryl, and to revenge Abby's father for his perceived part in Katie's death. It did not appear that either Cheryl or Marvin were aware of these additional motives.
It could also account for why the research Joe usually did so thoroughly failed to identify Abby's illness. He probably wasn't so thorough with respect to Abby - he was going to get her no matter what.

[–] 20 years ago

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[–] christian123 20 years ago

Why didnt they advertise this movie before going into the movies I didnt see that many commercials for it? I thought it was ok the performances were pretty good but the plot could have been better.

[–] Bafalicious 20 years ago

Yeah, after I saw this movie I was surprised that it never made it to theaters. There was an A-list cast and I thought it had incredible acting, but good movies slip through the cracks all the time. Questions about budget? Maybe because of the A-list cast, they spent all of the movies money to pay the actors. I don't know.

[–] vm_amnd 20 years ago

the movie made it in the theaters. i saw the advertise for it long before the premier. that's how i found out about it. you, guys.......

[–] ya_poor_crather 20 years ago

I think I've read in a few places, including these boards, that the release of this movie was delayed, then not promoted when it was released, due to the rash of high-profile, actual child kidnappings that took place around the same time.

[–] Raekami 20 years ago

I agree with the money, but I also think it was practice. The money helped them to get anything they needed for the next kidnappings (phones, minutes for phones, cars, food, the cabin) but it also helped them perfect the routine and make sure that they could do it more than once.

That's just my opinion anyway.

[–] Taylor_is_tight 19 years ago

Previous kidnappings-Money. Now when they kill Jennings' family, they can run.

I am NOT a Dirty Banana!-Please If U R wonderin, ask about the banana

PM me!i need friends

[–] 19 years ago

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