Trust attempts to deliver a thrilling story, but the result is a film so riddled with flaws that it fails to build tension. With an unimaginative central plot and a meandering character arc, there is very little about it that actually works. Even Sophie Turner’s performance ultimately feels uninspired.
The film follows Lauren Lane (Turner), a former child star who is caught in the crossfire of a celebrity hacking frenzy. Her life is shaken up, and she attempts to get some peace and quiet in a remote rental property. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning of her problems as things escalate and go off the rails.
Trust Makes No Sense
There’s a message of empowerment in the film, and that is admirable and noble, but in an effort to get its message across, Trust makes the protagonist a damsel in distress. She can’t stop scrolling on social media, nor does she have a flickering sense of self-preservation.
It’s clear that there is a message of female empowerment in the film.
Sophie Turner’s character is a victim of a salacious attack after private images are leaked online. The scandal turns everyone against her — even the people who once supported her. When her life is literally on the line, she finally steps up to take back control, but the movie once again leaves her helpless.
Lauren is given tools to break free, but she instead uses them in inane and pointless ways. There are obvious alternatives to save herself, so it breaks our immersion with the film. Somehow, things get worse when Trust‘s final act introduces a new major threat. Except, it doesn’t make any sense, and nothing plays out as the movie suggests.
Trust Has Good Intentions & A Headliner, But Not Much Else
As far as plot goes, other movies have done similar narratives better. It’s clear that a powerful idea is tucked away in the mess that is the movie, but the variety and severity of its issues bury it.
It feels like the story wanted to make a social commentary about something important, but forgot to do so with any emphasis.
While Turner is a great actress, her character is given very little to do, and many of her choices end up detracting from the strength and independence she is meant to espouse. Ultimately, it feels like the story wanted to include social commentary about something important, but forgot to do so with any real emphasis.
Trust has the makings of a decent movie, but there is precious little to redeem it from the numerous issues that plague the piece. If the narrative had been stronger, Lauren’s actions more well-thought-out, and its problems had been addressed, it could have been something more. But Trust is a disappointing and lackluster attempt at exploring a tense and important issue.
