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Trespass Against Us (2017) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Trespass Against Us (2017) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2017 · 99 min · English
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Directed by
Adam Smith

Set in Britain’s affluent countryside, the Cutler family operates an empire built on crime and passed down through generations. Colby, a ruthless patriarch, expects his son Chad to continue the family’s criminal activities. However, the arrival of Chad’s son, Tyson, disrupts the established order and ignites a power struggle over the family legacy. As Colby's control intensifies, Chad finds himself caught in a desperate fight for freedom, involving a risky heist, a thrilling car chase, and a dangerous manhunt.

On this page (9)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (4)
  3. 3 Character relationship map
  4. 4 Where & when it takes place
  5. 5 Themes & meaning (3)
  6. 6 Character & meaning questions
  7. 7 Movie threads
  8. 8 Movies like Trespass Against Us
  9. 9 Every angle
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4 main characters · contains spoilers

Trespass Against Us Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Trespass Against Us (2017), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Chad Cutler

    Chad Cutler is a conflicted father who yearns to escape the criminal life inherited from his family. His struggle to provide for his son while contending with his father's authority defines his character arc. Chad's complexity lies in his love for his family and his desire for a brighter future, making him both a sympathetic and tragic figure.

    • 🚶‍♂️ Protagonist
    • 🎭 Conflict
    • 👨‍👦 Fatherhood
  • Colby Cutler

    Colby Cutler represents the old guard of criminal tradition, determined to maintain control over his family and their legacy. His domineering nature and refusal to accept change create considerable tension with Chad. Colby's character embodies the challenges of generational conflict, especially regarding morality and legacy.

    • 👴‍♂️ Antagonist
    • ⚖️ Tradition
    • 💔 Betrayal
  • Kelly

    Kelly is Chad's supportive wife who encourages him to stand against his father's oppressive influence. Her character highlights the struggles of women in such familial dynamics, showcasing both strength and vulnerability. Kelly’s determination to seek a better life for her family adds depth to the narrative.

    • 👩‍❤️‍👨 Support
    • ✊ Empowerment
    • 💪 Strength
  • Tyson

    Tyson is Chad and Kelly's son, representing the innocence that Chad desperately wants to protect. His character serves as the catalyst for Chad's decisions, embodying the hope for a better future free from the family's criminal ties. Tyson’s experience illustrates the consequences of parental choices on children.

    • 👶 Innocence
    • 💖 Hope
    • 🌱 Future

Last updated: October 27, 2026 at 16:26

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4 characters · 4 connections · contains spoilers

Trespass Against Us Character Relationship Map

Who is connected to whom in Trespass Against Us: family, love, friendships, rivalries and hidden ties, colour-coded. Pick a character to see their side of the story, or a connection to see what brings two characters together.

How much of the story to show
CCChad CutlerCCColby CutlerKKellyTTyson

Last updated: October 27, 2026 at 16:26

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Setting

Where and When Does Trespass Against Us Take Place?

The setting of Trespass Against Us (2017): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

The film is set in contemporary times, reflecting modern-day issues surrounding crime and family loyalty. It touches upon themes relevant to today's societal challenges, such as the struggle between family legacy and personal ambition.

Location

Gloucestershire, England

Gloucestershire is a picturesque county in England, known for its rolling hills, lush landscapes, and rich history. The setting serves as a backdrop for the Cutler family's struggles, showcasing both the beauty of rural life and the dark undercurrents of crime. The blend of idyllic countryside and criminal activities highlights the tension within the family's dynamic.

  • 🏡 Home
  • 🚔 Crime Scene
  • 🌳 Nature

Last updated: October 27, 2026 at 16:26

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3 major themes

Trespass Against Us Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Trespass Against Us (2017) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Rebellion

    Rebellion against familial expectations is a central theme in 'Trespass Against Us.' Chad Cutler's desire to escape the criminal lifestyle is met with resistance from his father, Colby, symbolizing the struggle many face when trying to forge their own path. This clash between generations illustrates the difficulty of breaking free from inherited cycles of behavior.

  • Family Loyalty

    Family loyalty is another significant theme, as Chad grapples with his loyalty to both his father and his desire to protect his son. The film portrays the challenges of prioritizing family ties while yearning for a different life, raising questions about the consequences of loyalty to a toxic legacy.

  • Desperation

    Desperation drives Chad's actions as he attempts to secure a better future for his son. From his struggles to plan a heist to the fervent need to protect his children, the film encapsulates how desperation can lead one to make morally questionable decisions, impacting the lives of those around them.

Last updated: October 27, 2026 at 16:26

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Character & theme questions

Trespass Against Us Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Trespass Against Us (2017): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where is Trespass Against Us set?

The film is set in Gloucestershire, a picturesque county in England known for its rolling hills and lush landscapes. The setting contrasts the idyllic rural countryside with the dark criminal activities of the Cutler family, creating a tension between beauty and corruption.

  • gloucestershire
  • england
  • setting
  • rural
  • countryside
Q2

What time period does the film take place in?

Trespass Against Us is set in contemporary, modern times. The story reflects current societal issues around crime and family loyalty, making it relevant to today's audiences while exploring timeless generational conflicts.

  • modern
  • contemporary
  • time period
  • present day
Q3

What is the rebellion theme about in the movie?

The rebellion theme centers on Chad Cutler's struggle to escape the criminal lifestyle passed down by his father Colby. It represents the universal challenge of breaking free from inherited cycles of behavior and forging one's own path, even when facing powerful family expectations.

  • rebellion
  • family expectations
  • generational conflict
  • breaking free
Q4

How does family loyalty play into the story?

Family loyalty is a central tension, with Chad torn between his devotion to his father Colby and his need to protect his own son Tyson. The film explores how loyalty to a toxic legacy can trap people, while also showing the difficult choices families make when trying to break destructive patterns.

  • family loyalty
  • legacy
  • father son relationship
  • family bonds
Q5

What does desperation represent in the film?

Desperation drives Chad's actions as he attempts to secure a better future for his son Tyson. The theme illustrates how extreme circumstances can lead people to make morally questionable decisions, showing the human cost of fighting against systemic generational problems.

  • desperation
  • heist
  • choices
  • moral conflict
  • survival
Q6

Who is Chad Cutler and what does he want?

Chad Cutler is the conflicted protagonist who yearns to escape the criminal life he inherited from his family. He wants to provide a better future for his son Tyson and break free from his father Colby's control, representing the struggle between personal ambition and family duty.

  • chad cutler
  • protagonist
  • father
  • escape
  • criminal lifestyle
Q7

Who is Colby Cutler and what is his role?

Colby Cutler is the ruthless patriarch who heads the family's criminal empire. He represents the old guard of criminal tradition, demanding that his son Chad continue the family legacy. His domineering nature creates the central conflict of the film as he refuses to accept any deviation from his plans.

  • colby cutler
  • patriarch
  • villain
  • family boss
  • criminal empire
Q8

Who is Kelly and what role does she play?

Kelly is Chad's supportive wife who encourages him to stand against her father-in-law's oppressive influence. She represents strength and hope within the family, determined to seek a better life for her family and highlighting the struggles of those caught in toxic family dynamics.

  • kelly
  • wife
  • support
  • strength
  • family dynamics
Q9

Why is Tyson important to the story?

Tyson is Chad and Kelly's son who represents the innocence Chad desperately wants to protect. He serves as the catalyst for Chad's rebellion, embodying the hope for a better future free from the family's criminal ties. His character illustrates how parental choices directly impact children.

  • tyson
  • son
  • innocence
  • future
  • catalyst
Q10

Why is the countryside setting significant for this crime story?

The Gloucestershire countryside serves as a stark contrast to the criminal activities taking place. The beautiful rural landscape highlights the irony of a criminal empire existing in such an idyllic setting, emphasizing how crime can hide beneath the surface of respectable surroundings.

  • countryside
  • contrast
  • irony
  • setting significance
  • gloucestershire

Movie threads

More Movies Like Trespass Against Us, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Trespass Against Us tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Crime family dramas with oppressive legacies like Trespass Against Us

Stories of characters trapped and fighting to escape their criminal birthright. If you liked the tense struggle against a criminal family in Trespass Against Us, you might enjoy these other movies about characters fighting to break free from their oppressive birthright. Discover similar stories of intergenerational crime, domineering patriarchs, and the heavy cost of seeking freedom.

  • tense
  • oppressive
  • gritty
  • desperate
  • family conflict
  • high-stakes
  • Tone: tense, bleak, oppressive
  • Pacing: fast, escalating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: These narratives follow a character, often a son or daughter, who is expected to uphold a family's criminal empire. The story unfolds as the protagonist's growing disillusionment clashes with the patriarch's ruthless control, leading to escalating conflicts, risky plans for escape, and ultimately, a confrontation that redefines their future.

Why they belong together: Movies are grouped here because they share a core theme of intergenerational crime and the intense personal struggle to escape a predetermined fate. They feature similar elements of tense family dynamics, high-stakes criminal activity, and a pacing that builds towards a violent or emotionally charged climax.

Movies about desperate escapes with bittersweet endings like Trespass Against Us

Journeys where freedom is achieved, but at a significant personal cost. Fans of Trespass Against Us's poignant conclusion will find similar emotional journeys in these films. Explore stories of characters making desperate bids for freedom that lead to bittersweet resolutions, where victory is tempered by sacrifice, much like Chad's story.

  • desperate
  • bittersweet
  • cathartic
  • tense
  • sacrifice
  • moral victory
  • Tone: tense, desperate, bittersweet
  • Pacing: fast, culminating
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a protagonist trapped in a harmful cycle, who engineers a risky escape plan. This plan often culminates in a decisive, intense confrontation or chase. The story concludes not with pure triumph, but with a complex resolution where the character gains a form of freedom or moral victory, but loses something equally important in the process.

Why they belong together: These films are united by a specific emotional arc and ending tone. They deliver a cathartic yet somber experience, focusing on the high price of liberation. The shared vibe is one of tense desperation leading to a poignant, rather than purely happy, conclusion.

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Every angle

Trespass Against Us (2017) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Trespass Against Us in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

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