Trap House, an audacious action thriller that asks audiences to accept one of cinema’s most absurd premises—a group of teenagers robbing a dangerous Mexican drug cartel—premiered in limited release on November 14, 2025, relying heavily on Dave Bautista’s charismatic grounded performance to sell the inherently ridiculous storyline. Directed by Michael Dowse and written by Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O’Connor, the film stars Bautista as Ray, an undercover DEA agent in El Paso, Texas, whose son Cody (Jack Champion, Avatar: The Way of Water) and his high school friends decide that robbing cartel stash houses using their parents’ classified intelligence and tactics represents an acceptable solution to financial hardship. Supporting performances from Sophia Lillis as Denny, Tony Dalton and Kate del Castillo as psychotic cartel siblings, and Bobby Cannavale as Bautista’s DEA partner, attempt to ground the outlandish narrative. Critical reception has been decidedly mixed, with reviews acknowledging that while Bautista’s performance and director Dowse’s brisk pacing make the film “worth watching,” the inherent absurdity of the premise, tonal inconsistencies, and rushed third-act character development undermine what initially seems promising. The film received a limited release ahead of what may or may not become a wider theatrical distribution.
Plot and Premise: Audacious and Absurd
Trap House presents one of cinema’s most inherently ridiculous premises: a group of high school teenagers decide that robbing drug cartel stash houses (trap houses) using their DEA parents’ classified tactics and intelligence represents the most logical solution to financial hardship. When one DEA agent is killed in action, leaving his family destitute, protagonist Cody (Jack Champion) convinces his friends to engage in what amounts to a felonious act of convenience masked as teen solidarity.
The narrative splits into two conflicting tonal universes: one featuring cartoony teen heists reminiscent of Fast and the Furious family dynamics, and another depicting grounded hard-core DEA/cartel violence with genuine life-and-death stakes. Dave Bautista’s DEA agent father Ray pursues the cartel while unknowingly chasing his own son’s criminal escapades. Meanwhile, psychotic cartel siblings (Tony Dalton and Kate del Castillo) hunt the mysterious thieves targeting their operations.
Cast and Characters
Dave Bautista as Ray (DEA Agent/Father): Bautista delivers what reviewers universally acknowledge as the film’s only genuinely compelling element—a grounded, understated performance that brings unexpected depth to what could have been a cheesy action hero role. Despite the film’s absurdity, Bautista portrays Ray as a concerned father and professional agent, successfully conveying emotional complexity through minimalist acting. His moment of realization regarding his son’s involvement is played completely straight, effectively communicating Ray’s sense of betrayal and concern. Without Bautista’s performance, the film would collapse entirely under the weight of its ridiculous premise.
Jack Champion as Cody (Teenage Ringleader): The Avatar: The Way of Water star portrays Cody, the impulsive high schooler who orchestrates the cartel robbery. While the character avoids becoming an outright cliché, the screenplay fails to adequately establish Cody’s motivation for escalating heists despite his friends’ objections. Champion brings likability to the role despite underdeveloped backstory regarding his strained relationship with his father following his mother’s death.
Sophia Lillis as Denny: Among the teenage ensemble, Lillis’ character receives the most character development, though that admittedly remains minimal. Her performance provides one of the few genuine emotional anchors for the teen storyline.
Tony Dalton and Kate del Castillo as Cartel Siblings: Both actors display menace and commitment to their roles despite being subjected to typecasting as cartel bosses. Their performances evoke their previous turns in Better Call Saul and Bad Boys for Life, suggesting limited creative challenge in these roles. Dalton and del Castillo anchor the grounded action sequences with their presence.
Bobby Cannavale as DEA Partner: Cannavale performs competently in a fairly standard supporting role, providing professional backup for Bautista’s DEA storyline.
Director and Screenwriter: Michael Dowse and Gary Scott Thompson
Director: Michael Dowse | Previous Work: Stuber (2019, reuniting with Bautista), Goon (acclaimed cult gem), 8-Bit Christmas, Coffee & Kareem | Signature Style: Ability to maintain brisk pacing while balancing tonal shifts
Dowse demonstrates genuine technical competence throughout Trap House. The director maintains consistently brisk pacing, never allowing the film to stall despite its narrative absurdities. His experience with Bautista from Stuber translates into effective casting chemistry and an understanding of how to deploy the actor’s particular strengths. However, even Dowse cannot overcome the fundamental structural issues embedded in the screenplay.
Screenwriters: Gary Scott Thompson and Tom O’Connor | Thompson’s Background: Fast and the Furious franchise screenwriter, 88 Minutes, Champion
Thompson’s Fast and the Furious experience clearly informs Trap House‘s approach to family dynamics and absurdist action premises. However, the film’s tonal inconsistencies and character development failings suggest Thompson and O’Connor struggled to balance the competing narrative demands.
Critical Reception and Ratings
Rotten Tomatoes (Critics): Score pending (early critical reviews mixed) | IMDb User Rating: TBA | Critical Consensus: Mixed reviews acknowledging Bautista’s performance while criticizing premise, third-act execution
The Hollywood Reporter (Frank Scheck): “A credit to Bautista’s big-lug charisma that the film goes down as easily as it does… While the actor has demonstrated he’s fully capable of more ambitious assignments, he brings sufficient star power and gravitas to keep this ridiculous enterprise aloft.”
JoBlo.com (Chris Bumbray): “While the premise is utterly ridiculous, Dave Bautista brings depth to what’s otherwise a silly (but entertaining) teen action flick.”
Loud and Clear Reviews: “If you get past the more ludicrous parts of its premise, Trap House will keep you surprisingly invested—at least until the movie’s ending… [The film] starts to lose [momentum] when [Cody] decides to escalate the situation even further with yet another heist… [The ending] doesn’t feel earned.”
Common Critical Criticisms: Rushed ending, inadequate character development, tonal inconsistency, unearned father-son reconciliation, underdeveloped third act, insufficient exploration of Cody’s motivations for escalation despite warnings
Production and Release Information
Production Budget: Undisclosed | Filming Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico | Principal Photography: April 2024 | Production Companies: Capstone Studios, Signature Films, 828 Productions, Scott Free Productions, Dogbone Entertainment | Distributor: Aura Entertainment (first theatrical release for new distribution company)
MPAA Rating: R (bloody images, some strong violence) | Runtime: 127 minutes (2 hours 7 minutes)
Release Strategy: Trap House received a limited release on November 14, 2025, ahead of a potential wider rollout depending on box office performance and critical reception. Aura Entertainment CEO Marc Goldberg stated: “Trap House embodies everything we stand for: bold, smart, and wildly entertaining. With the firepower of Dave Bautista and the pedigree of Scott Free, this film kicks off our slate with muscle and style.”
Where to Watch
Theatrical Release: November 14, 2025 (Limited and expanding based on box office performance) | Theatrical Availability: Select theater chains across United States and select international markets | Streaming Release: TBA (expected 2025-2026 based on typical theatrical-to-streaming windows) | Digital Rental/Purchase: Expected 2025-2026 (iTunes, Amazon Prime Video, Vudu, Google Play, YouTube)
Trap House is currently available in limited theatrical release nationwide on November 14, 2025. Given the limited release strategy, availability varies by market. Following typical theatrical release patterns for mid-level action films, the movie is expected to arrive on streaming platforms and digital rental services 45-90 days after theatrical release, likely arriving on various SVOD services throughout 2025-2026.
