Have you ever wondered what it would be like to attend a concert with an active search for a serial killer happening at the venue? Look no further than M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap which brings this experience to theaters.
Set at a pop star’s concert, audiences (both in the film and real life) witness the search for a serial killer named “The Butcher” due to his methods of execution. The movie does a good job of presenting the characters in a way that is unsettling in dialogue and their close-up camera shots. We see Cooper (played by Josh Hartnett) fighting to keep his dual lives as a loving father and cold-hearted murderer separate. The unrest he feels is almost palpable as he maneuvers through the trap set up to catch him.
At times the movie is laugh-out-loud funny in ways it shouldn’t be as it shows the monstrous mind of a killer. While the dialogue becomes laughable in how dull it gets toward the end, Hartnett commits to his role as Cooper/the Butcher which manages to keep interest throughout. Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka, also does a standout job in her debut acting role as the pop star Lady Raven. Known for his twists, Shyamalan provides several in Trap. Not only in the plot but also throughout other elements that will likely leave you thinking the movie is not like his others yet it works.
Despite not being his best work, Shyamalan creates a movie that leaves viewers wondering just who is around us at places we enjoy. While the dialogue drags the movie to a slow burn, the payoff is we get to see Hartnett again along with catchy music.
TRAP opens in theaters nationwide on August 2nd, 2024.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Ashley Bell (Contributing Editor) is an Orlando native who loves watching movies. Her favorite genres include comedies, thrillers and sci-fi.Click Here to check out Ashley's Articles.