Dave Bautista’s new action movie, Trap House, recoups his Rotten Tomatoes reputation after his poor George R.R. Martin fantasy adaptation earlier this year. Following its theatrical release on November 14, Trap House has debuted with a 63% score from the critics on Rotten Tomatoes. The movie has 16 reviews at the time of writing, so its score could fluctuate as more are published. With fewer than 50 ratings from users, the film doesn’t yet have an audience score. With a Fresh score, Trap House has recouped Dave Bautista’s Rotten Tomatoes reputation after In the Lost Lands (2025), which, based on a story by George R.R. Martin, has a terrible 24% score.
Directed by Michael Dowse, with a screenplay written by Gary Scott Thompson (Fast & Furious) and Tom O’Connor, Trap House stars Dave Bautista as a DEA agent who, along with his partner, engage in a game of cat and mouse with an audacious group of thieves, who turn out to be their own defiant teenagers robbing the cartel using their parents’ tactics and classified intel. Other than Dave Bautista in the lead role, the cast also includes Jack Champion (Avatar: The Way of Water), Sophia Lillis (It), Kate del Castillo, Tony Dalton (Better Call Saul), Whitney Peak, two-time Emmy winner Bobby Cannavale (Boardwalk Empire, Will & Grace), Inde Navarrette (Superman & Lois), Zaire Adams, and Blu del Barrio (Star Trek: Discovery). In ScreenRant’s Trap House review, Brandon Zachary writes, “Dave Bautista’s new crime thriller fuses Sicario with The Breakfast Club — and it works… Trap House’s blend of high school archetypes and cartel crime thrillers is an interesting genre fusion that works surprisingly well.”

Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale standing next to each other in Trap House

Otherwise, many reviews praise the film’s energetic twist on action-thriller conventions, especially its focus on the DEA agents’ children and the emotional stakes of parents protecting their families. Dave Bautista and Bobby Cannavale’s performances also earn praise for grounding the movie’s wilder moments. Critics also highlight the movie’s brisk pacing, solid action, and a surprising mix of humor, heart, and grief that gives it personality overall. However, some negative reviews argue that the movie leans too hard on clichés, tonal inconsistency, and thin characterization – wasting what some see as a clever premise. Critics also point to awkward politics, unintentional humor, and familiar B-movie plotting. Still, even detractors concede that the concept and the cast’s charisma help Trap House remain highly watchable.

Release Date

November 14, 2025

Director

Michael Dowse

Writers

Gary Scott Thompson