Naman Shrestha
Directed by Michael Dowse, ‘Trap House’ is an action crime thriller movie that centers on two DEA agents, Ray and Andre, who work together to bust drug operations in the state of Texas. During one of the raids of a drug cartel, things get out of control, and Andre ends up dead. Following the tragedy, Ray’s son teams up with Andre’s son, who is his best friend, in order to rob the cartel’s trap houses and obtain enough money for Andre’s grieving family. As the teenage duo recruits their friends to get the dangerous job done, Ray finds himself drawn into an intense game of cat and mouse, as the DEA suspects the group of teens is yet another criminal organization.
While the teens use their parents’ tactics and top-secret intel to pull off robberies, Ray is tasked with busting the new organization and making an example of them, unaware that it is led by his own son. Featuring stellar performances from Dave Bautista, Jack Champion, Sophia Lillis, Tony Dalton, Whitney Peak, Inde Navarrette, and Zaire Adams, the high-octane tale unfolds in El Paso, Texas, where the criminal underbelly shapes the characters’ judgments and moves the narrative forward.
Trap House Filming Locations
Although ‘Trap House’ is set in El Paso, Texas, the shooting reportedly took place entirely in New Mexico, particularly in and around Albuquerque. According to reports, principal photography for the Dave Bautista starrer got underway in early April 2024 and continued for nearly two months before wrapping up by the last week of May of the same year. The production employed more than 150 New Mexico residents, including 60 crew members and 100 background actors. Ammie Masterson, who portrays Ellie Albright, expressed her gratitude of being a part of the project upon the conclusion of production. She stated, “Man, what a great ride!! I had the opportunity to meet and work with some phenomenal people! Amazing cast and crew!!”
Albuquerque, New Mexico
All the pivotal sequences for ‘Trap House’ were lensed in the city of Albuquerque and a few surrounding areas. Situated in the Albuquerque Basin, the city is also the county seat of Bernalillo County and known as ABQ. The combination of Albuquerque’s rugged landscape and bustling cityscape makes it an ideal stand-in for El Paso, Texas, where the film is set. In the establishing shots of the city, you might be able to spot various landmarks and buildings in the backdrop, including San Felipe de Neri Church, Rio Grande, the Alvarado Transportation Center, Albuquerque Plaza Office Tower, the Clyde Hotel, and Bank of the West Tower. The filming unit also supposedly took over several establishments and businesses across ABQ in order to tape important indoor scenes.
During a conversation with the AU Review, director Michael Dowse was asked if there was a scene that he was proud of after it got on its feet. He explained, “I think certain action (sequences), like the sand and the beer truck heist, that’s such a beast.” He revealed that it was his first time working with a robust second unit, as there were many moving parts. He added, “That one, for me, as much as you can prep, there’s so many elements and so much you have to know. You just let people do the best they can with all the elements. It turned out really well. It was always an ambitious set piece to do, and I was pleasantly surprised with the results. That one probably surprised me the most in terms of what came back.”
Read More: Where Was Shelter (2026) Filmed? All Shooting Locations
