“Trapped” (Colombia, R) may not be the best movie in the world, but it made me chew my fingernails to bloody stumps, which has to count for something.

Based on the novel “24 Hours” by Greg Iles, the plot of the film revolves around a wealthy couple, played by Stuart Townsend and Charlize Theron. They work against the odds after discovering that their young asthmatic daughter has been kidnapped by greasy criminals, played all too convincingly by Kevin Bacon (Joe) and Courtney Love (Cheryl).

Having committed similar crimes four times before with no glitches and a hefty ransom, Joe and Cheryl are thrown for a loop when they discover that this particular family introduces a few liabilities tragically overlooked in the planning stages.

That’s not to say this movie is all that different from any other big budget Hollywood thriller, because it’s not. But what this film has that others don’t is style. There is a certain way of presenting information to a viewing audience that tends to be lost in most movies. Time and time again a movie prefers to treat its viewers as if they were babbling idiots than assume that they might be able to figure out a plot twist on their own. “Trapped” reveals just enough to establish an easily understandable story but withholds elements that an avid movie buff can chew on during the dull parts.

Aside from a few enjoyable suspenseful moments, “Trapped” contains quite a gem of celluloid that must be addressed.

Courtney Love has, until now, been able to squeak by the public’s eye with mediocre performances in such hits as “The People Versus Larry Flynt” and “Sid and Nancy,” but it is only in this most recent film that we are given a vivid view of just how much of a disgusting pig she really is.

One scene in which Love tries to act sexy and dangerous in the presence of a wealthy doctor, and newest victim Will Jennings (Townsend), she flops her face against a wall and tosses her dirty hair around in such a gross display that I almost had to stop myself from calling out in fear.

Scary … very scary.

If you are faced with a boring evening and feel like going to a movie, this would be a good one to see. It’s a lot better than most of the other junk that’s out right now, and you can crunch loudly on stale popcorn while watching it without the fear of missing crucial dialogue.