23 Convoluted Movie Traps

Suspiria (1977)

Who? A coven of witches running a school for teenagers, makes sure that pupil Sarah (Stefania Casini) can't escape.

What? Apparently trapped by an unseen assailant, Sarah tries to make a break for freedom through a skylight, only to find that the room beyond is full of razor wire.

Why... not just board up the window? It must have been a hell of a job getting all that wire in there, not to mention untangling Sarah's corpse afterwards. Then again, they probably used witchcraft, didn't they?

Arlington Road (1999)

Who? Suburban terrorists Oliver and Cheryl Lang (Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack), setting college professor Michael Faraday (Jeff Bridges) up for a fall.

What? Grief-stricken Faraday is groomed with conspiracy theories and then has his son kidnapped...but it's all part of a fiendish masterplan to get him to look like a loony when he unwittingly drives a car full of Semtex into an FBI building.

Why... didn't the Langs bomb the place themselves and say Al-Queda did it?

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984)

Who? The Thuggee cult, trying to stop nosey parkers like Indy (Harrison Ford) getting into their Temple... of Doom.

What? A stone chamber, with strategic booby-traps that a) make the walls close in and b) spikes protrude from floor and ceiling. The release mechanism covered in slimy bugs, for added yeeuch factor.

Why... not just post sentries? Or were they actually auditioning for I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here ? See also: chilled monkey brains.