‘Trapped Inn’ (2024) Movie Review - A Spooky Lockdown Attempt that Falls Flat

Leah Sturgis’s Trapped Inn sets out with an ambitious premise: blending elements of horror, sports drama, and a survival thriller. The film follows an American cycling team on a training camp in the remote European mountains, where they find themselves trapped in a historic lodge. With a mysterious force picking them off one by one, the tension mounts between two rival teammates, Connor (Matt Rife) and Greg (Robert Palmer Watkins), as they fight for survival. Despite its intriguing concept, Trapped Inn unfortunately fails to deliver a compelling cinematic experience.

The setting of a secluded lodge in the mountains holds the potential for a chilling atmosphere, but the execution is lackluster. The cinematography, while occasionally capturing the eerie isolation of the location, doesn’t sustain the suspense needed for a gripping horror. The lodge, intended to be an ominous character in itself, often feels underutilized, lacking the haunting presence that such a setting demands.

Sturgis’s attempt to intertwine sports with a survival horror plot is commendable but falls flat in practice. The film spends an inordinate amount of time establishing the rivalry between Connor and Greg, detracting from the horror elements that should drive the narrative. This imbalance makes the storyline feel disjointed, as though the movie is unsure of its identity.

When it comes to acting, acting seems forced. It doesn’t come naturally to those who feature in the film. This movie is a classic case of too many themes that spoil the plot. The performances by Matt Rife and Robert Palmer Watkins are serviceable but fail to elevate the material. Connor and Greg’s rivalry, while central to the plot, lacks depth and nuance. The script’s dialogue is often clunky, preventing the actors from fully immersing the audience in their characters’ struggles. Supporting cast members are given little to work with, and their characters’ deaths lack the emotional weight needed to heighten the stakes.

One of the film’s biggest shortcomings is its pacing. The first act meanders through mundane team dynamics and training sequences, delaying the introduction of the central mystery. When the deaths begin, they’re marred by predictable setups and uninspired visuals. The lack of creativity in the horror sequences undermines the suspense, leaving viewers more bored than terrified.

Additionally, the movie struggles to establish a coherent explanation for the team’s predicament. Hints at supernatural forces or psychological unraveling are never fully explored, leaving a muddled narrative that fails to satisfy. By the end, the audience is left with more questions than answers, but not in a way that feels deliberate or intriguing.

Overall, Trapped Inn is a missed opportunity. Leah Sturgis’s ambition to merge multiple genres is evident, but the execution falls short on nearly every front. For viewers seeking a chilling survival horror or a gripping sports drama, this film offers little to satisfy either craving. While the concept has promise, the final product is a forgettable mishmash of half-baked ideas. Trapped Inn could have been a thrilling ride, but it ultimately gets lost in its own ambitions, leaving audiences trapped in disappointment.

Final Score- [4/10]
Reviewed by - Neerja Choudhuri
Follow @NeerjaCH on Twitter
Publisher at Midgard Times