Watch Trapped (2024), a gripping drama short film by David Cutler-Kreutz & Sam Cutler-Kreutz. A tale of conflict & survival. A high school janitor runs into a series of dangerous obstacles.
🚪 Trapped (2024) — Drama Short Film by David Cutler‑Kreutz & Sam Cutler‑Kreutz
A breathless, high‑stakes sprint through hallways, hazards, and human limits, Trapped is the kind of short that grabs you in its first frame and doesn’t let go until the credits roll. Written, directed, and produced by brothers David and Sam Cutler‑Kreutz, this 15‑minute U.S. drama turns a high school into a labyrinth of danger — and its unlikely hero is the janitor.
🧭 Overview
- Genre: Drama / Thriller
- Writers & Directors: David Cutler‑Kreutz & Sam Cutler‑Kreutz
- Producers: David Cutler‑Kreutz, Sam Cutler‑Kreutz, Silvia Chen, Tara Sheffer, Alex Morsanutto
- Cinematography: Gabriel Crawford Connelly
- Editor: Caitlin Carr
- Music: Freya Berkhout 🎼
- Runtime: ~15 minutes
- Premiere: World premiere at SXSW 2024 — Narrative Shorts Competition2
- Awards: Special Jury Prize at SXSW, Best U.S. Short at Palm Springs ShortFest, Grand Prize at HollyShorts 2025 (Oscar‑qualifying)
- Filming location: Bayonne, New Jersey, USA
- Aspect ratio: 2.35:1
📖 Story in Brief
A quiet morning at a high school turns into a gauntlet of survival for Joaquin, the janitor. What begins as routine maintenance work quickly escalates when he finds himself locked inside the building — and not alone.
As he navigates corridors and classrooms, Joaquin encounters a series of dangerous, almost game‑like obstacles: collapsing structures, blocked exits, and unpredictable human threats. Each turn forces him to improvise, adapt, and push his body to the limit.
The film unfolds like a live‑action video game level — each “stage” more perilous than the last — but the stakes are painfully real.
🛠️ Creative “Tools” & Style
- Physical storytelling: Minimal dialogue; the action and environment do the talking.
- Kinetic camerawork: Gabriel Crawford Connelly’s lens follows Joaquin in long, fluid takes, amplifying urgency.
- Production design: Paper fabrication and practical effects turn familiar school spaces into surreal traps.
- Sound as tension: Trevor Gates’ sound design layers creaks, echoes, and sudden silences to keep you on edge.
- Editing rhythm: Caitlin Carr cuts between claustrophobic close‑ups and wide shots to control the viewer’s breath.
✅ Pros & ❌ Cons
Pros
- 🎯 Immediate hook: The premise is clear and gripping from the first minute.
- 🎥 Technical polish: Cinematography, sound, and editing work in sync.
- 🏆 Festival pedigree: Multiple major wins, including Oscar qualification.
- 💪 Physical performance: Joaquin Javier Molina’s turn as the janitor is intense and believable.
Cons
- ⏳ Short runtime: Leaves you curious about the backstory behind the traps.
- 🌀 Relentless pace: Little room for quieter character beats — though that’s part of its adrenaline rush.
🌟 Key Features
- Single‑location thriller: Maximises tension within the confines of a school.
- Everyman hero: A janitor as the central figure flips the usual action‑hero archetype.
- Practical effects: Real‑world stunts and set pieces heighten immersion.
- Brothers’ vision: The Cutler‑Kreutz duo handle writing, directing, and producing, giving the film a unified style.
🎯 Use Cases & Applications
- Film studies: Example of environmental storytelling and pacing in short form.
- Action choreography workshops: Study in designing escalating physical challenges.
- Festival programming: Fits high‑energy, genre‑blending shorts blocks.
👥 Who Is It For?
- Thriller fans: Viewers who love contained, high‑tension stories.
- Cinephiles: Those interested in inventive short‑form filmmaking.
- Aspiring filmmakers: Looking for lessons in how to make a small space feel huge.
💡 Humanized Takeaway
Trapped is about more than dodging danger — it’s about resilience when the walls close in. By putting an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances, the Cutler‑Kreutz brothers remind us that heroism often comes from the people we overlook.
🔍 Find More & Support
- Official Trapped page on Sam Cutler‑Kreutz’s site — synopsis, credits, and festival news.
- IMDb listing for Trapped (2024) — full cast, crew, and technical details.
- TheWrap coverage of HollyShorts Grand Prize win — awards news and Oscar qualification.