Trapped Inn: A Claustrophobic Thriller That Loses Its Way

The first time we see Connor’s face in the dimly lit lodge, his breath visible in the cold air, you know something is off. Trapped Inn, Leah Sturgis’s 2024 genre-mashing misfire, opens with a sense of foreboding that never quite pays off.

What it is: A cycling team—led by rivals Connor (Matt Rife) and Greg (Robert Palmer Watkins)—trains at an isolated European lodge. When teammates start dying under mysterious circumstances, the two must work together to survive and uncover the truth behind their predicament. Sturgis, working from her own script, tries to blend sci-fi, thriller, and horror elements into a cohesive whole, but the result is a muddled mess.

Where it works: The film’s atmosphere is its strongest suit. Shot in a remote European location, the lodge feels authentically claustrophobic, with narrow corridors and dim lighting that amplify the tension. Sturgis knows how to build suspense, and there are moments—like a chilling scene where Andrea (Brielle Gearson) discovers one of her teammates frozen solid—that genuinely unsettle. The casting is also noteworthy, particularly Rife’s committed performance as Connor, whose arc from arrogant cyclist to desperate survivor is the film’s most compelling thread.

Rife brings an intensity to Connor that anchors the film, even when the script stumbles. His physicality—whether pedaling furiously through a blizzard or desperately searching the lodge for answers—grounds the character in reality, making his eventual emotional breakdown all the more impactful. Watkins, meanwhile, delivers a serviceable performance as Greg, though his character often feels one-dimensional, reduced to little more than Connor’s foil.

Gearson fares better with Andrea, infusing her with a quiet resilience that makes her standout among the supporting cast. However, even she is sidelined in favor of more conventional horror set-pieces, leaving her story arc frustratingly incomplete. The rest of the cast—including Brian Gross as Coach and Rickey Brown as Cruz—are serviceable but largely forgettable, their characters serving little purpose beyond being the next victim.

Where it falters: Trapped Inn wants to be too many things at once, and in chasing after genre tropes, it loses sight of what made its premise intriguing. The sci-fi elements—revealed in a late-game twist—feel tacked on, as if Sturgis realized mid-production that she needed something more than just a standard thriller. The horror aspects are similarly uneven; while some deaths are creative, others rely too heavily on jump scares and clichéd set-pieces. Worst of all is the film’s pacing, which lurches between slow-burn tension and rushed exposition dumps.

The film’s attempts to explore themes of rivalry and survival are interesting but ultimately drowned out by its genre-hopping ambitions. Sturgis seems torn between crafting a character-driven drama and delivering a pulse-pounding thriller, resulting in a narrative that feels disjointed and unfocused. The sci-fi twist, in particular, undercuts the film’s earlier horror elements, making the lodge feel less like a haunted house and more like a poorly designed experiment.

The supporting cast fares less well than Rife. Watkins’ Greg is a broadly drawn character, while Gearson’s Andrea feels underused, her potential as a focal point squandered in favor of more conventional horror beats. The film’s attempts to explore themes of rivalry and survival are interesting but ultimately drowned out by its genre-hopping ambitions.

Who it’s for: Trapped Inn will likely appeal to fans of low-budget horror thrillers looking for something to watch on a lazy weekend night. Those seeking a thoughtful exploration of human nature or a tightly plotted sci-fi mystery should look elsewhere. The film’s strengths lie in its atmosphere and Rife’s performance, but these are not enough to overcome its many shortcomings.

Verdict: Trapped Inn is a frustrating watch—one that promises much but delivers little. While it has moments of genuine tension and a standout lead performance, the film ultimately collapses under the weight of its own ambitions. Sturgis shows flashes of promise as a director, particularly in her ability to create a sense of dread, but she needs to learn when to trust her instincts and when to step back.