Trapped Inn – Movie Review (1/5)

TRAPPED INN is a new sci-fi mystery thriller that could have been good. If only the storyline and execution had been better. The core plot is interesting but everything else is a mess. Also, it’s way too long. Read our full Trapped Inn movie review here!

TRAPPED INN is a genre movie that wants to be many things at once and ends up being none of them. It’s supposed to be a sci-fi thriller but starts out feeling like a “sports bro” movie and ends up feeling like a grossly mistimed romance drama.

Ough, it just really doesn’t nail much of anything. Also, the runtime was initially listed as 1 hour and 20 minutes everywhere, but the screener we watched was 1 hour and 54 minutes. Way, way too long, and it definitely didn’t help the overall experience.

Continue reading our Trapped Inn movie review below. Find it on Digital from November 22, 2024.

An American cycling team in Europe

For the first 20 minutes (at least), Trapped Inn focuses on an American cycling team training in Europe. The team is getting ready for “The Tour”, which can only mean Tour de France if you’re talking about cycling.

However, none of these characters look like professional cyclists. Also, they’re supposedly training and getting ready for the biggest competition of the season, but they’re also partying and drinking. And the coach takes part in this rather than stop them. It’s just silly really.

Then the real story begins as they’re trapped in what is billed as a “historic lodge” (or an “Inn” if we’re to accept the title pun), as members of the team mysteriously die. Before long, only the senior teammate and newbie, Greg and Connor respectively, remain.

Yeah, that’s a bit of a spoiler as it happens quite late in the movie. However, it’s also the official plot, so blame the PR and not us.

Just write what you know

This is the kind of genre movie that you could watch and make a game out of. The people working on this movie have obviously decided to make a movie featuring things they know nothing about. Completely ignoring the advice of “Write what you know”.

One thing is the fact that these cyclists getting ready for the tour are beefy and drinking alcohol. Anyone who knows anything about cycling will recognize professional cyclists as being small-framed with fiercely strong legs and often very thin arms.

Also, they are religious about what they eat and drink in preparation for a big race such as Tour de France. As is any professional athlete getting ready for a big competition.

Later, one of the characters decides to go out foraging to find food. And imagine his lunch when mushrooms are everywhere. Now, one thing is the fact that anyone who knows anything about foraging will tell you to be careful. Especially with mushrooms as a little of the wrong funghi will kill you.

But don’t worry, this guy is lucky enough that he can “forage” pre-cut portobello mushrooms from the forest. Yes, we actually see him “pick” a mushroom with a neatly cut base. I mean, come on. And suddenly, there’s a nice big onion ready in the kitchen.

You can watch Trapped Inn on VOD or Digital

The writer and director of this sci-fi mystery thriller is Leah Sturgis. She previously made the movie Hard Breakers (2010). It currently has an IMDb rating of 2.8 and I don’t know what to say about her work except that Trapped Inn is not a good movie.

It feels like a spoof of many different genre movies. One made to highlight how cute and charming standup comedian & actor Matt Rife (Connor in Trapped Inn) is, but he comes across as a real cheeseball instead. Sorry, the young actor is gorgeous but his character in Trapped Inn is so poorly written.

This movie feels like a production where everyone just felt that everything was a good idea. So many things could’ve been better if someone had spoken up (or just knew better), but that clearly wasn’t happening.

I can’t blame the cast, but most of them are also producers of the film, so maybe I can?! In any case, watch it if you’re curious as to how not to make a movie.

Trapped Inn is out on VOD and Digital from November 22, 2024.

Details

Writer & Director: Leah Sturgis
Cast: Matt Rife, Robert Palmer Watkins, Oliver Trevena, Brian Gross, Jacy King