MOBILE phones are the bane of the modern world, chirruping annoyingly in the middle of films and transforming mild-mannered teenagers into frenzied text fiends.

One such handheld device takes a starring role in David R Ellis's edge-of-seat thriller, an unabashed slice of B-movie schlock that shines thanks to the combined efforts of a top-notch cast.

High school science teacher Jessica Martin (Kim Basinger) sees her husband Craig (Richard Burgi) off to work, then walks her son Ricky (Taylor Gordon) to the school bus.

She returns home shortly before five unknown assailants, led by the villainous Ethan (Jason Statham), break in and take her hostage, spiriting her away to a remote house.

Jessica is locked in the attic where she patches together a shattered telephone and secretly places calls to unknown numbers in a last-ditch effort to save herself and her loved ones.

A carefree young man called Ryan (Chris Evans) answers her call on his mobile 'phone and listens intently as Jessica begs tearfully for his help.

At first, he laughs off her story of abduction, certain that one of his friends is playing a practical joke.

But when it becomes clear that an increasingly distraught Jessica is telling the truth, Ryan pledges to do all he can.

He contacts the police, including desk sergeant Bob Mooney (William H Macy), but they are too busy and time is of the essence.

With no one else to answer Jessica's prayers, Ryan keeps her on the line as he races to save Craig and Ricky from the kidnappers' clutches and to discover the location of the hideaway.

Based on a story by Larry Cohen (who also wrote Phone Booth), Cellular is surprisingly suspenseful and entertaining hokum that makes the most of its simple premise.

The logic in Chris Morgan's screenplay often struggles to find a clear signal: Ryan possesses an uncanny ability to slalom through oncoming traffic and he is remarkably bullet-proof in the face of adversity.

However, the film readily acknowledges its contrivances and clichs and embraces them, propelling the characters on a white-knuckle ride of energetic set-pieces and shoot-outs, ably directed by Ellis.

Basinger is impressive considering she is confined to a dingy attic for most of the film. She cries, screams and shakes with fear like a trouper.

Evans is less convincing but runs and jumps for all his worth and Macy brings a touch of quirky brilliance to his supporting role.

DAMON SMITH