Trust No 1 is a 2019 independent Conspiracy Thriller.
Officer Doug Bradley investigates what he believes to be serial killings, only to discover a vast conspiracy involving former special operatives who had been released from prison. Not knowing where else to turn, he enlists the help of his brother, Ryan.
Due to the nature of this film, all spoilers are unmarked.
You can't hide the tropes:
- Accidental Murder: Doug had been playing with a gun as a child when it went off, killing his mother.
- Cool Car: Doug drives a pony car as opposed to a police cruiser.
- Did I Mention It's Christmas?: Due to the fact that Doug is a police officer, his festivities are put off by police business.
- Evil Laugh: Dr. Stevens smugly laughs in response to Doug's threat to rip out the former's throat if he hurts Amy.
- Faux Affably Evil: The government psychologist, Dr Stevens, feigns pleasantries in all his interactions.
- Forced to Watch: Dr. Stevens kills the police chief in front of Doug.
- Greed: Dr. Stevens wants the drive for his own personal gain.
- Good Policing, Evil Policing: Small-Town Detective Doug Bradley comes into conflict with a conspiracy by the NSA and FBI involving false imprisonment and murder. Doug tries to save the former prisoners before they are killed.
- Grave-Marking Scene: Doug leaves roses on his mother's grave.
- He Knows Too Much: The conspiracy eliminates anyone who has enough information to interfere with their operation.
- Hello, Attorney!: Doug's attractive fiancée, Amy, is studying for the bar exam.
- Hellhole Prison: The inmates under Dr. Stevens and Warden Sparks were subjected to psychological and physical abuse.
- Jurisdiction Friction: Doug is forced to hand his case over to the FBI and the NSA, both of whom are in on the conspiracy.
- Matricide: Doug accidentally killed his mother as a child.
- MacGuffin: The NSA had been searching for a drive containing top secret military intelligence data. It also turns out to have access to the treasury.
- Mind Rape: Dr. Stevens had the Warden subject the prisoners to psychological torment in addition to physical abuse.
- Miscarriage of Justice: Robert Clayton's widow claims that Robert never hit his alleged victim with his car, and that his imprisonment had been under false pretenses. Robert had also been held for murdering his partner at the government agency where he worked, despite there being no evidence of his guilt. It turns out Robert is only one of multiple falsely accused, and that Ryan is among potential targets.
- New Year Has Come: The movie takes place between Christmas and New Years of 2009.
- Psycho Psychologist: Dr. Stevens, the government-enlisted therapist for the local prison, is part of a larger conspiracy involving the Pentagon, with methods including gaslighting and false imprisonment.
- Resignations Not Accepted: When one of the prisoners refuses to co-operate with the therapist regarding doing dirty work, the therapist reveals that the Pentagon won't accept his lack of co-operation.
- Sibling Team: Doug enlists the help of his brother, Ryan, when the investigation starts to get really tough. Unfortunately, Ryan is in over his head with regards to the conspiracy.
- Shame If Something Happened: Dr. Stevens subtly threatens Amy's life if Doug doesn't co-operate.
- Soft-Spoken Sadist: Dr. Stevens usually speaks with a gentle voice which highlights his lack of empathy.
- Title Drop: When Doug calls Amy to inform her that she is in danger, he says "trust no one".
- Wardens Are Evil: Warden Sparks is in on the NSA's conspiracy to murder former operatives.
- You Have Failed Me: When the warden fails to extract information about the drive for Dr. Stevens, the latter kills him.
- You Have Outlived Your Usefulness: Dr. Stevens has his men killed when he no longer needs them.
