Movies: Trust (2025) by Carlson Young: A Muddled Thriller of Betrayal and Survival

A Starlet's Fall from Grace and a Fight for Her Life Trust is a 2025 American thriller directed by Carlson Young, starring Sophie Turner as Lauren Lane, a Hollywood actress and former child star. After a hacking scandal reveals her pregnancy and a compromising relationship with her former TV dad, Lauren hides in a remote cabin for a week to escape the media frenzy. However, her attempt at a quiet retreat is short-lived. She is betrayed by the man she trusted most, and soon finds herself trapped and fighting for survival against intruders. The film is a blend of survival horror, home invasion thriller, and social commentary on Hollywood and the media machine.

Why to watch this movie: A High-Concept Premise with a Strong Lead

• An Intriguing and Timely Premise: The film taps into the modern anxieties of celebrity culture, media scrutiny, and the blurred lines between public and private lives. The idea of a starlet's personal scandal leading to a terrifying fight for survival is ripe with potential.

• Sophie Turner's Performance: Many critics and viewers, even those who disliked the film, agree that Sophie Turner delivers a strong, sympathetic performance as Lauren Lane. She effectively portrays the character's vulnerability and her eventual transition to a more resourceful and powerful figure.

• A Visual and Artistic Effort: Directed by Carlson Young, who is known for her visually arresting and genre-bending work, the film has some notable technical achievements. The visual style, shifting color palettes, and use of score aim to create a tense and unsettling atmosphere.

Where to watch: https://www.justwatch.com/us/movie/trust-2025 (US), https://www.justwatch.com/it/film/trust-2025 (Italy)

Link IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt31314745/

Link Review: https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/trust-sophie-turner-film-review-2025

About movie: https://www.trust.movie/

What Trend is followed? The "Metacommentary" Hollywood Thriller

• The "Hollywood Deconstruction" Trend: The film fits into a recent trend of movies that use a genre framework, such as a thriller or horror film, to offer a biting critique of the Hollywood industry. These films explore the dark side of fame, parasocial relationships, and the exploitation that lurks beneath the glamorous facade.

• The Claustrophobic Survival Thriller: The film follows the classic trope of a character trapped in a small, enclosed space and forced to find a way out. This subgenre focuses on building tension and terror through confinement and the character's psychological unraveling.

Director's Vision: Blending Genres and Exploring the Concept of Trust

• Carlson Young, known for her diverse work from the surreal horror of The Blazing World to the romantic comedy Upgraded, aimed to create a film that was more than just a genre exercise. Her vision for Trust was to explore the central theme of "trust and betrayal" on multiple levels: from family and work dynamics to intimate relationships.

• She wanted to create a more grounded and tense atmosphere compared to her previous work, using a "frenzied '90s thriller vibe" to connect the physical details of the story to Lauren's emotional journey.

• Young's background as an actress influences her directing style, and she strives to create a safe space for her actors to be vulnerable, which may explain why Turner's performance is so widely praised.

Themes: The Fragility of Fame and the Deconstruction of an Idol

• The Deceptive Nature of "Trust": The film's central theme is the exploration of trust and its betrayal. Lauren trusts her partner, her publicist, and even the "safety" of her remote cabin, but each element betrays her in some way, forcing her to rely on herself.

• The Hollywood Machine: The film is a harsh commentary on the media machine and the public's obsession with celebrities. Lauren, once "America's favorite daughter," is brutally taken down by a scandal, highlighting how quickly public opinion can turn against an idol.

• The Reclaiming of Agency: A key part of Lauren's journey is her struggle to take back control of her life. Trapped and helpless for a significant portion of the film, her eventual moments of agency and her ability to fight back against her oppressors are a core part of the narrative.

Key Success Factors: A Central Performance and Timely Story

• Sophie Turner's credible and sympathetic performance is a major factor in the film's success, holding together a narrative that many found to be inconsistent.

• The film's timely and relevant plot about celebrity scandals and online privacy connects with a modern audience, creating a high level of intrigue from the start.

• The film's strong aesthetic and production value elevate the material, showing that it was a serious artistic endeavor despite its narrative flaws.

Awards and Nominations: Limited Recognition for an Ambitious Project As a new release, Trust has not received major awards. Its limited box office performance suggests that it was not a commercial success. It grossed a total of just over $368,000 worldwide, with a domestic opening weekend of around $240,000.

Critics Reception: Flawed but Ambitious

• Collider: The review from Collider states that Sophie Turner is "wasted in this poorly written thriller." The critic notes that while the premise is interesting, the film "doesn't trust itself to craft a compelling story," with "horribly written" villains and a "dull and boring" feel.

• But Why Tho?: This review calls Trust an "Unfortunately Messy Survival Thriller," and criticizes the film's "bafflingly written characters" and a narrative that "lacks cohesiveness." They felt the film "bypasses the more interesting take on the story" and makes the protagonist make "unbelievably stupid" decisions.

• Screen Rant: A review from Screen Rant echoes the other critics, stating that the film is "riddled with flaws" and that it "fails to build tension." They felt the film's attempts at social commentary were "buried in the mess" and that the protagonist's actions were often "inane and pointless."

• Overall Summary: The critical reception for Trust is largely negative. While most critics praise Sophie Turner's performance and the film's ambitious ideas, they consistently criticize its poor writing, illogical plot, and inconsistent tone. The consensus is that the film is a promising concept that was poorly executed.

Reviews: Wasting a Good Premise and a Strong Actress

• User reviews on IMDb are highly critical, with a user named jadencbryant asking, "Why was this made?" and calling it "all over the place with huge inconsistencies." Another user, jared-25331, called it a "dull and boring thriller movie with some of the worst writing I've ever seen."

• Viewers complained that the film sets up multiple plotlines that are not explored, and instead, the narrative devolves into a generic and uninspired home invasion story. They were frustrated by the illogical actions of the characters, particularly the protagonist.

• The overall sentiment is that the film is a huge disappointment that fails to live up to its promising premise and wastes the talent of its lead actress.

Movie Trend: The Deconstructed Genre Film The film is part of the trend of deconstructed genre films, which take a familiar plot (in this case, a thriller) and attempt to subvert audience expectations by blending it with other genres or themes, often with a "meta" commentary. While this trend can be successful, in Trust's case, it led to a muddled and tonally inconsistent final product.

Social Trend: The Digital Age of Celebrity Scandals The film directly addresses the social trend of the digital age of celebrity scandals. In an era where a person's entire life can be exposed in a matter of seconds by a hacking or leak, the film taps into the real-world anxieties of privacy, fame, and the public's insatiable appetite for the downfall of public figures.

Final Verdict: A Disappointing Misfire Trust is a disappointing misfire that fails to capitalize on its high-concept premise and the talent of its lead actress. While it attempts to deliver a powerful message about trust and the media, its flawed writing and illogical plot make it a frustrating and ultimately unsatisfying watch. It's a film with good intentions and some strong visual moments, but it's a perfect example of a promising idea that got lost in translation.