Written and directed by Leah Sturgis, ‘Trapped Inn’ is a 2024 science fiction feature that stars Matt Rife, Robert Palmer Walkins and Jacy King.
Matt Rife plays Connor, part of an American cycling team touring Europe. When the team finds itself stuck deep in the European mountains, mysterious occurrences begin to lead to the deaths of one team member after another. Connor and Greg, two cyclists who rarely agree, find themselves racing against time to get to the bottom of the horror before the team is wiped off completely.
Matt Rife is a pretty popular comedian and stand up legend and it is refreshing to see him in a feature where he displays his acting chops. We have all seen his witty and sneaky one liners online but to headline in a feature is something else entirely and thankfully, Rife manages to keep the whole thing afloat. At the other end is the team’s leader Greg (played by Robert Palmer Walkins) who doesn’t see eye to eye with newcomer Matt. Walkins manages to hold his own against Rife and the rivalry between the two is what makes this film. In addition, the entire cast manages to do great and their performances elevate the entire film.
First things first; the direction is good. The way Leah Sturgis is able to weave this intricate story is laudable. With so many characters to juggle and such a nuanced story to bring to life; it was always going to be risky but Sturgis utilises the meshing of the genres to create something unique and memorable. With a great script in place, it always comes down to the narrative pacing to conjure up a story that does the characters justice whilst taking the audience on a journey that feels both worthwhile and satisfying. Since this is a film that combines the pandemic conspiracy theories with an alien invasion, we’d say the final product turns out pretty well.
Leah Sturgis has weaved a story that is mysterious and puts its protagonist through the grinder, ultimately coming to the conclusion that when you face otherworldly forces, all your efforts to survive will be in vain. The 90 minute film whizzes by quite fast, testament to the fantastic editing and pacing from Sturgis who structures the thriller in a way that it doesn’t stop for even a second. The fantastic narrative pacing is aided by great acting, sharp action and a melancholic tone that meshes well with the story at hand.
Visually speaking, the film bursts out of its own shell soaring. The cinematography is crisp and the colors make the film look quite polished. The cinematographer has done a fantastic job ensuring that the action does not look bombastic for the sake of it and those tense, unnerving moments of interaction between characters look as energised and unpredictable as possible.
Another aspect that is frequently overlooked by reviewers is the sound design. The sound mixing team has done a terrific job here, invoking a true sense of dread in all of the tense scenes and ensuring a consistent theme of fear and confusion as seen by the protagonists throughout the story. The sound design of a thriller has a significant part in ensuring that the story feels true to its roots and the team here has done really well in this regard. Thus, Trapped Inn is a more than adequate survival thriller that meshes some unconventional themes to create a story that will both entertain and impress.
