Trust (2025)
TRUST (2025): THE PSYCHOLOGICAL DESCENT OF A STARLET IN HIDING
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| Theatrical Release Poster |
Quick Information
- Title: Trust
- Release Year: 2025
- Director: Carlson Young
- Writer: Gigi Levangie
- Lead Actress: Sophie Turner
- Genre: Psychological Thriller, Survival Horror
- Production Company: Twisted Pictures
- Distributor: Republic Pictures
- Language: English
- Runtime: Approx. 108 minutes
- MPAA Rating: R (violence, language, psychological intensity)
- Status: Post-production (as of mid-2025)
Plot
There’s something primal about silence. The kind of silence that doesn’t just fill a room—it invades you. In Trust (2025), silence is not peace. It is fear, paranoia, and the pounding echo of your heartbeat as you try not to breathe too loud. At the center of this silence is Sophie Turner, portraying an actress who has fled from the vultures of scandal and celebrity to hide out in a remote Airbnb, far from the neon claws of Hollywood.
But what begins as self-imposed exile quickly morphs into a waking nightmare. The Airbnb, nestled in a dense wooded region, promises seclusion—but the silence doesn't last. On her second night, she hears movement. On the third, her phone loses signal. By the fourth, she’s not alone.
Trust is not about ghosts. It’s about the terrifying realism of being hunted, of watching shadows stretch under doorways, of learning that your only safety is yourself—and you’re not sure you can even trust that anymore. The plot unravels like a psychological trap: minimal dialogue, heavy tension, brutal confrontations. The film isn't about what’s happening—it’s about how it’s destroying her mentally, moment by moment.
The twist? The people pursuing her aren’t strangers. They’re connected to the very scandal she ran from. The film dares to blur lines between predator and prey, between guilt and victimhood. The final act is a devastating, surreal collapse into the protagonist’s own psyche, where even the audience begins to question what’s real and what’s remembered wrong.
Main Cast
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Sophie Turner as The Starlet – Unnamed in the film, she’s a burned-out actress caught in a social scandal, spiraling into paranoia and survival mode. Turner’s performance is raw, stripped of glamor, and emotionally shredded.
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Katey Sagal as Gloria – A mysterious woman tied to the past. Possibly maternal. Possibly murderous. Her presence in the second act fractures the narrative’s perception of truth.
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Billy Campbell as The Stranger – A figure from the protagonist’s past who shows up with intentions never fully revealed. Is he protecting her or setting her up?
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Rhys Coiro as Joel – A relentless pursuer who seems more interested in psychological torture than capture. He's the wild card of the film—animalistic and cunning.
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Peter Mensah as Mr. Hollow – Appearing only in flashbacks or hallucinations (or both), he’s a symbolic representation of the system that broke her.
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Forrest Goodluck as Micah – A young man who gets caught in the crossfire, unsure if he’s helping or being used. His innocence contrasts the darkness around him.
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Gianni Paolo as Ezra – Social media manipulator and tabloid journalist. He’s seen in phone footage and memories, often blurred or distorted, reminding the audience of the digital age’s unforgiving eye.
Hidden Facts
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The Film Was Shot Chronologically
Director Carlson Young insisted on filming scenes in the order of the script. This is rare in modern cinema but was used to help Sophie Turner’s performance organically deteriorate in sync with her character’s breakdown. -
Real-World Influences
The screenplay by Gigi Levangie was inspired by real accounts of Hollywood actresses who disappeared from the spotlight following major social controversies. Several lines of dialogue are direct quotes from anonymous testimonies. -
Sound Design as a Character
There is minimal music in Trust. Instead, the filmmakers used sound as a weapon—ambient creaks, muffled footsteps, even Sophie Turner’s breathing were emphasized to heighten dread. The lack of traditional scoring makes the silence brutal. -
No Mirrors Were Used
One eerie element is the total absence of mirrors in the house. The production designer confirmed this was intentional—to symbolize the protagonist’s complete disconnection from self-image and identity. -
The Title Has Dual Meaning
“Trust” doesn’t just refer to who the protagonist can believe. It also refers to a financial trust fund that is central to the backstory involving family betrayal. Subtle but potent.
Deleted Scenes
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The Backstory of the Scandal
An extended flashback explaining the scandal that forced Sophie Turner’s character into hiding was shot but later removed. The director felt keeping it ambiguous increased the tension and forced the audience to judge the character without bias. -
A Monologue to a Mirror
In a powerful scene, the protagonist delivers a monologue in front of a mirror, questioning her worth and existence. Though moving, it was cut for tonal consistency—too theatrical compared to the film’s otherwise grounded feel. -
Interaction with a Local Sheriff
A brief sequence showing the protagonist calling for help and being dismissed by a small-town sheriff was removed. The director didn’t want to give the audience false hope or a sense of outside saviors. -
A Final Shot of Hollywood
An alternate ending had the protagonist walking back into Hollywood, scarred and hollow. Instead, the released cut ends in silence, leaving her fate unknown. The omission gives the film a more haunting finish.
Behind the Scenes
Carlson Young’s Psychological Approach
Young, still early in her directorial career, used an almost experimental approach on set. She had Sophie Turner isolated from other actors during shooting days and fed her misinformation about scenes to keep her unsettled. Turner later admitted she didn’t know what was real or staged half the time—exactly what Young wanted.
Sophie Turner’s Method Preparation
Turner reportedly lived alone in a cabin for two weeks before filming began, without phone or media access. She journaled in character, ate the same meals as her role, and spent time walking blindfolded to simulate disorientation. The results are visible—her performance feels like a nervous system unraveling on screen.
Lighting with Lanterns and Natural Light
Most interior scenes were lit with actual lanterns and candles, not studio lights. This added a smoky grain to the cinematography, enhancing the feeling of age and mystery. One night shoot had to be redone because a thunderstorm wiped out visibility entirely.
Improvised Dialogue
The film’s most intense scene—where Turner’s character finally confronts her pursuers—was largely improvised. According to crew reports, the script only said “She loses it.” What followed was a 12-minute raw breakdown, edited down to four chilling minutes in the final cut.
No Phones Allowed on Set
Young banned all crew from using cellphones during filming hours to keep a consistent psychological tone. Even background actors were not allowed to post anything online. Turner later said this “made the world feel claustrophobic—in the best way.”
On-Set Injury
During a tense escape sequence, Turner actually bruised two ribs crashing into a wooden door. The shot was kept in the final edit, and you can see her genuinely wincing in the scene—a detail that adds raw realism.
Final Thoughts
Trust (2025) is not your typical horror-thriller. It doesn’t rely on loud bangs or sudden reveals. Instead, it breathes down your neck. It demands attention. And it holds a mirror up to the dangers of fame, the trauma of betrayal, and the ultimate question: when your world collapses, who can you really trust?
This is Sophie Turner’s most daring role yet. And Carlson Young, with her unique directing fingerprint, proves she’s not afraid to throw the rulebook out. The result? A suffocating, beautiful, frightening film that will crawl under your skin and stay there long after the credits roll.
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