According to IMDb, Trespass has the dubious distinction of boasting the shortest lag time ever between a theatrical and DVD release: released to cinemas in the States on October 14, 2011, it was pulled after only 10 days and made its appearance on DVD just over two weeks later, an astonishingly short turnaround that didn’t exactly bode well for the film’s prospects on home media. 

Directed by Joel Schumacher of The Client and A Time to Kill fame, Trespass stars the somewhat waxen duo of Nicholas Cage and Nicole Kidman as a wealthy married couple taken hostage by a quartet of violent extortionists, which includes Aussie Ben Mendelson and Twilight’s Cam Gigandet.  When the couple’s teenage daughter returns home she’s also subjected to a bit of rough stuff.  There’s plenty of shouted threats, some half-hearted misdirection about needing money for a sick relative’s kidney operation, an escape attempt or two, a bit of confusing back story and a mildly less confusing denouement, none of which is entirely satisfying, especially considering the relative strength of Schumacher’s previous work. 

In fact Trespass marks the fourth consecutive misfire for the formerly feted director, following on from The Number 23, Blood Creek and Twelve, all of which were nearly universally derided.  It certainly looks the part, with slick cinematography courtesy of renowned Andrej Bartkowiak and a vibrant colour palette which suits the adrenaline-fuelled proceedings, but ultimately these visual tricks serve only to make the film’s two wan leads, like the subject matter itself, appear markedly lacklustre in comparison.  Trespass has its moments and there’s certainly no shortage of on screen talent trying desperately to bolster proceedings, but any tension ultimately dissipates under the weight of an unconvincing screenplay and robs the film of any chance it had of building to a nail-biting crescendo. 

Special Features

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