Weird Obsessions - made for tv movie TRAPPED (1989)

There once was a made for tv movie called TRAPPED, starring Kathleen Quinlan, Bruce Abbott, Tyrees Allen, Ben Loggins, and Katy Boyer. It’s directed by Fred Walton who co-wrote it with Steve Feke. I vividly remember watching it in 1989, when I was kid, and loving it. However, like many made for tv movies, it never made it to DVDs, only VHS and even then it was rare enough I had to hunt it down.

Before the internet became what it is today, I could track down VHS copies by contacting companies, by phone or mail, who sold used or rare movies and shows. One day, I struck gold! A company in Vancouver, B.C. had one copy for something like $45, so I bought it. It was a former rental copy, complete with “Be Kind Rewind” and other stickers indicating the rating and genre. I watched the shit out of it. It was one of my most treasured VHS tapes. I even worried about wearing it out and having to track down another rare copy.

Eventually, VHS gave way to DVDs and that meant VCRs also died off with VHS. Fortunately, I bought a DVD/VHS combo player at my local Walmart before VCRs were discontinued. I literally bought a combo player only to watch TRAPPED on VHS.

Once I had access to a home computer and the internet, I would periodically search for more information about TRAPPED. To this day, the only copies are VHS, usually former rental. Over the last few years, I found a copy that is NEW and still in it’s plastic wrap. If you see a DVD copy, it might be a bootleg.

To this day, there is not much information on it other than IMDB. My favorite fact about TRAPPED is that Kathleen Quinlan and Bruce Abbott met on the set and got married in 1994. Turns out their chemistry was genuine! Another fact is Bruce Abbott was married to Linda Hamilton. Yes, thee star (Sara Connor) of the James Cameron’s TERMINATOR and TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY. Director Walton often co-wrote with Steve Feke.

It’s surprising that Fred Walton is not as known as other horror masters like Wes Craven and John Carpenter, even though he directed two horror classics. Walton wrote and directed the classics WHEN A STRANGER CALLS and APRIL FOOL’S DAY. Maybe his lack of recognition is because he directed about 13 movies and 9 are made for tv. I also highly recommend Walton’s sequel WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK and I SAW WHAT YOU DID. In fact, I’m also weirdly obsessed by WHEN A STRANGER CALLS BACK (available on DVD, thankfully), but that’s for another post. I wish all Fred Walton’s movies were available on DVD.

I think part of what makes Walton unique is he knows how to tell a scary story within the limitations of working on television. He doesn’t need the freedom the horror movie directors rely on. It’s like Walton has no use for more profanity, controversy, sex, and violence. I love his female protagonists for feeling more real than most final girls in horror. Sometimes you watch a horror and objectively conclude “This director hates women.” My sense is Walton likes women.

If you can find TRAPPED (1989), I recommend it. Runtime is 1 hour 33 minutes. Here are some links to Fred Walton interviews.

https://www.starburstmagazine.com/features/fred-walton-stranger-calls

https://dailydead.com/april-fools-day/

https://www.scifinow.co.uk/interviews/when-a-stranger-calls-flashback-interview-with-fred-walton/

Weird Obsessions - Werewolf short story

Once upon I time, in the early aughts, I was a frequent reader of Salon.com. I frequented one particular section where anybody could submit their writing. One submission was a short story. It has stayed in my memory for 20 years and I regret, TO THIS VERY DAY, not saving it.

Here’s the problem, I can’t remember the name of the writer nor the title of the short story nor the date I read it. I can describe the writer as possibly middle-aged white woman with maybe short blondish hair and maybe dressed in a cream or yellow suit.

Even though I have nearly zero interest in mythological monsters (as in vampires and werewolves) and the supernatural, this one story has me in it’s grip. Possibly because many werewolf stories are about men and the “beastly” nature of men. I think of this story often, even fantasizing about directing it as a movie. I have no interest in directing anything, but this story because the world of cinema needs more were-women.

The story revolved around a woman who’s a werewolf who has control over when she transforms. Her struggle is this: the longer she goes without transforming and killing, the more physical pain she suffers. She’ll suffer more, and more pain until she transforms. Transforming into a werewolf and killing actually gives her relief from the pain. She is doesn’t take pleasure in the killing, but has to in order to alleviate her suffering. It’s like she experiences a “transformation cycle” instead of a menstrual cycle.

The woman ends up in a symbiotic relationship with a cop who knows her secret and will give her victims. In essence, the cop is “feeding” her people like child abusers, known criminals, and dangerous people.

I loved the story and wish it were turned into a movie or a tv series and I’m frustrated that I did not save it. I hope, someday, to find that story and the name of the author. Lesson learned: if you read and love something online, make sure to save it offline. Don’t be like me, not saving and then regretting it for 20+ years.