M. Night Shyamalan, known for his supernatural plots and twist endings, has received mixed reactions to Trap, the latest in his extensive body of work. The film stars Josh Hartnett who plays a serial killer dubbed as The Butcher, as well as Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka, who wrote, produced and sang all of the film’s songs, as pop sensation Lady Raven. Hartnett’s character, Cooper, takes his daughter to a pop concert, trying to win her favor, but he discovers it is a set-up to catch a deranged killer known for cutting his victims into pieces, who happens to be Cooper himself. (Also read: Meet M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter Ishana, who is turning director with The Watchers,
Shyamalan said in an interview with Empire that his idea for the film was, “What if The Silence of the Lambs happened at a Taylor Swift concert?” It is based on a real-life sting operation Operation Flagship in 1985, in which US Marshals offered NFL tickets to lure and trap fugitives. The plot is full of twists, but at one point it loses all credibility and becomes too far-fetched, which has led to mixed reviews from critics. However, Josh Hartnett’s performance steals the show as he plays one of the best roles of his career.
What are the critics saying?
The Trap, which has a 50% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, doesn’t offer much in terms of storytelling, but it is a carefully constructed thriller. The Playlist’s review reads, “The plot is initially simple enough, but the sinister journey of a father and killer who tries not to let go and upset the carefully constructed delusional construct of his life — and how the two identities collide with each other on one fateful day — is thrillingly multifaceted.” Cooper takes his teenage daughter Riley to a pop concert in Philadelphia. However, his attempts to be “Dad of the Year” go astray when the show turns into a cat-and-mouse race between a madman who dismembers his victims, and the FBI.
Critic Mary Beth McAndrews writes, “Shyamalan chooses to hint at his typical bouts of shocking violence rather than show it outright. The more Cooper tries to conceal, the more the story goes off the rails, and frankly it has no interest in ever getting back on track.”
Is Shyamalan’s twist satisfying?
Graeme Tuckett of Stuff.co.nz believes that “Shyamalan has learned at least one new trick over the years. With Trap, Shyamalan gives away the “surprise” early, rather than saving the absurd plot twist for the last few minutes of the film.” On the other hand, Rodrigo Perez of The Playlist claims, “It would be wrong to call what happens in Trap a twist… [It] The shape shifts, and the play ominously sheds its skin, becoming a new creature of its own, and it is truly an anxiety-filled rollercoaster.”
Josh Hartnett’s brilliant performance
The Trap’s disappointing plot and storytelling are offset by Hartnett’s versatility in playing the foolish, embarrassing father while also acting as a ruthless serial killer. A review from Dread Central marvels at Hartnett’s talent, stating, “Hartnett is in nearly every frame of Trap and he completely inhabits the scenes. Since the audience is aware of his little secret, his facial expressions become even more demonic and almost charming. Shyamalan and Hartnett make sure we never sympathize with Cooper, but they make it clear how someone like him could get away with committing violence.”
