Trust (2010) – Film Review

Post-Friends, David Schwimmer has added an ecclectic mix to his growing CV. From Big Nothing to a cameo on BBC’s Come Fly With Me via Band of Brothers, he’s immersed himself in a host of varied projects. Trust, his latest directorial offering, again furthers him from his most recognisable role as Ross.

Following the developing relationship held between 14 year old Annie and a 16 year old volleyball player who lives in a different state, Trust explores the ease with which sexual predators use social media to prey on young victims.

The film uses subtitles interestingly to portray the increasingly explicit messages sent between the two. Annie’s trust is increasingly tested when Charlie keeps revealing he’s told lies about his age. When they finally meet we discover, with horror, that he is a 30+ year old with a penchant for young blood. His sweet talk leads them to a motel room where Annie wears the underwear he buys her before she in raped by him.

Liana Liberato’s portrayal of Annie is both believable and unnerving. Holding a confusingly close emotional attachment to her attacker, she provides the Trust with a protagonist who allows the film to plumb a sensitive subject. Clive Owen stars as her heart broken father intent on seeking revenge. The further his quest takes him, the more he discovers about the relationship held between his daughter and the paedophile.

The ending packs a powerful, if slightly jarring, punch that adds insight to an otherwise little explored character. Whilst its horrifying developments shock, the film’s progression manages to make an impact. The subject matter is sensitive and often raw but the performances help add a humanity to a difficult subject.