Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story

Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story

Year: 2019

Runtime: 88 mins

Language: English

Director: Jeffrey G. Hunt

DramaTV Movie

You can’t pray away who you are. When a teenager reveals that she is gay to her devout Mormon parents, they decide to send her to a conversion therapy home in Utah.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

The events unfold in a contemporary setting, reflecting ongoing debates around LGBTQ rights and conversion therapy. The story highlights current social dynamics, legal processes, and support networks available to youth in crisis.

Location

St. George, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah

The film unfolds in St. George, Utah, a conservative desert town anchored by church and family. Local institutions and community leaders exert informal control over residents, shaping daily life. The setting is central to the plot, framing coercive conversion practices and the fight for personal autonomy.

🌆 Small town setting ⛪ Religious influence 🌈 LGBTQ+ themes ⚖️ Legal battle 🏃 Escape and resilience

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:45

Main Characters – Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019)

Meet the key characters of Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Alex Cooper (Addison Holley)

A 15-year-old student and the film’s central figure, Alex endures coercive conversion efforts by guardians and the Simms. She documents days in a secret journal while seeking help from allies, and she fights to live openly with her girlfriend Frankie. Her resilience drives the legal battle that follows.

🌈 LGBTQ+ protagonist 💪 Resilience 📚 Student

Jason (Stephen Joffe)

An openly gay student who leads the Gay-Straight Alliance at school. He has faced discrimination and suicidal thoughts but finds strength in a supportive family and peers. Jason becomes a crucial ally for Alex, helping her access protection and resources.

🤝 Ally 🏳️‍🌈 Openly gay 🧭 Guidance

Carol Lynn Nielson (Elisa Moolecherry)

The English teacher who assists Alex and Jason, connecting them to legal help. She and Jason reassure Alex that support is available and willing to help navigate the crisis. She acts as a protective ally within the school.

👩‍🏫 Teacher 🤝 Ally 🛡️ Advocate

Paul Burke (Wilson Cruz)

A Salt Lake City attorney who takes Alex’s case pro bono and agrees to represent Frankie if needed. He coordinates with schools and advocates to challenge the coercive network and protect Alex’s rights.

⚖️ Lawyer 🛡️ Legal advocate 🧑‍⚖️ Civil rights

Johnny Simms (Ian Lake)

The adult in charge of the conversion program, who exerts control through intimidation and punishment. He orchestrates the abusive regime and reinforces a climate of fear to force obedience.

🪪 Abuser ⛪ Religious authority 🧱 Coercion

Daniella Lopez (Alexandra Chaves)

Alex’s sympathetic neighbor who provides shelter after she is expelled from the home. Daniella’s support demonstrates how small acts of kindness can sustain someone under pressure.

🤝 Ally 🏠 Safe haven

Colette (Natalie Liconti)

A worker at the Salt Lake City Youth Crisis Center who supports Alex and coordinates contact with legal aid. She emphasizes that the Simms and parents cannot take her away while advocacy continues.

🧭 Safe haven 🏥 Crisis support

Bishop Carver (Laurie Murdoch)

A religious leader who becomes involved in the storyline during crucial moments but offers limited practical aid to Alex’s plight.

⛪ Clergy 🗣️ Authority 🧭 Manipulation

Grandma (Lynne Griffin)

Alex’s grandmother who is part of the Utah-based family network. She appears in the broader setting that introduces Alex to the Simms and the surrounding community dynamics.

👵 Family anchor 🧭 Generational perspective

Mr. Cooper (Steve Cumyn)

Alex’s father, whose decision to send Alex to Utah with her grandparents initiates the confrontation with the Simms and the conversion regime.

👨‍👩‍👧 Family dynamics 🧭 Parental authority

Mrs. Cooper (Kate Drummond)

Alex’s mother, a driving force behind the plan to send Alex to Utah and place her under the Simms’ care.

👩‍👧 Family dynamics 🧭 Parental authority

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:45

Major Themes – Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019)

Explore the central themes of Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story (2019), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🌈 LGBTQ+ Identity

Alex’s struggle centers on acknowledging her sexual orientation under pressure to conform. The film depicts coercive therapy and the emotional toll of isolation. Supportive allies and a secret journal become lifelines in the fight for self-acceptance. The ending shows a legal victory allowing her to live openly as a gay teenager.

⛪ Religious Coercion

Religious beliefs are weaponized to justify control within the community. The Simms invoke Celestial Kingdom rhetoric to isolate Alex and enforce obedience. The story critiques the harm caused when faith-based authority is used to regulate personal lives. Clergy and religious figures are portrayed as powerful enforcers of the status quo.

⚖️ Legal Battle

A Salt Lake City attorney, Paul Burke, volunteers to represent Alex pro bono and to safeguard Frankie as well. The film follows legal efforts and advocacy that challenge the coercive network around Alex. It highlights how legal intervention can disrupt community pressure and protect youth. The narrative culminates in a ruling affirming Alex’s right to live openly.

🏃 Freedom and Autonomy

Alex’s escape from the abusive environment marks a turning point toward personal autonomy. The story emphasizes the importance of trusted adults, safe spaces, and protective services in securing freedom. The conclusion celebrates reconciliation with her parents and the prospect of living openly with her partner.

Last Updated: November 22, 2025 at 15:45

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Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story Summary

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Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story Summary

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Trapped: The Alex Cooper Story Timeline

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