Common Sense Media Review
By Jeffrey M. Anderson
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teens take on drug dealers in violent, stale actioner.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 15+?
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Where to Watch
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Trap House
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
In TRAP HOUSE, Cody (Jack Champion), Deni (Sophia Lillis), Jesse (Blu del Barrio), Yvonne (Whitney Peak), and Kyle (Zaire Adams) are a group of teenage besties in El Paso, Texas, bonded by the fact that their parents are all DEA agents. During a raid led by Cody's father, Ray Seale (Dave Bautista), and his partner, Andre Washburn (Bobby Cannavale), Jesse's father is shot and killed. Without his father's paycheck, Jesse and his mother will be forced to move away. While on a ride-along with his dad, Cody views an abandoned "trap house"—a location where drugs are bought, sold, and/or used. Inside it are piles of drugs and money. Cody gets the idea to assemble his friends and rob one of these places in order to get the money Jesse needs to be able to stay. Unfortunately, they stumble into the operations of a deadly crime lord, Natalia Cabrera (Kate del Castillo), who's looking to expose all DEA agents. And to her, this is far from a game.
Is It Any Good?
This action-thriller feels off target in its tone, taking a Goonies-style teen adventure and mashing it up with a serious movie about drug dealers and death and wasting its cast in the process. Trap House at first looks like it's going to be a Bautista thriller about trying to figure out how to foil wily criminals. But the focus soon shifts to the five teens. It seems more than a little unlikely (and more than a little convenient) that the five besties are all the children of DEA agents. There could be reasons for this—maybe they grew up together, or maybe they're bonded over their dangerous lives—but the movie ignores these questions and just plows ahead.
It also introduces a love interest for Cody that might seem ill-chosen if it, too, weren't also convenient. And while the teens are a fairly diverse group overall, it doesn't take long to notice that White, male Cody is the leader and the center of attention. (And that the queer, Black member of the group, Kyle, is painted as a coward who's only good for being a lookout.) Removing the teens from the equation reveals not much more than a typical thriller with shoot-outs, car chases, and explosions. Not even talent like Bautista, Cannavale, or del Castillo can bring anything fresh to Trap House.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about Trap House's violence. How did it make you feel? Was it exciting? Shocking? What did the movie show or not show to achieve this effect? Why is that important?
How are drug use and drinking depicted? Are they glamorized? Are there realistic consequences? Why does that matter?
What does the film's choice to make its teen main characters be both robbers and the children of DEA agents say about morality, justice, and family loyalty?
What consequences do the characters face for their actions, if any? What message do you think the film sends?
Movie Details
- In theaters : November 14, 2025
- On DVD or streaming : December 3, 2025
- Cast : Dave Bautista , Jack Champion , Sophia Lillis , Bobby Cannavale
- Director : Michael Dowse
- Inclusion Information : Asian Movie Actor(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Aura Entertainment
- Genre : Action/Adventure
- Topics : Activism ( Civic engagement ) , Friendship
- Run time : 102 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : some strong violence/bloody images
- Last updated : November 21, 2025
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