TRAP

M. Night Shyamalan's Trap is a thriller that starts off with promise but loses its way towards the end. Featuring Josh Hartnett as a dad with a dark secret and Shyamalan's daughter, Saleka, as pop star Lady Raven, the movie is high on concept but falls victim to increasingly unrealistic plot twists. While the soundtrack is a standout (and may have just introduced us to our next favorite artist), the film's logic unravels as it heads into its final act. Hartnett shines, and Saleka holds her own, but the film's absurdities prevent it from fully landing. Worth a watch for Shyamalan fans, but don’t expect a classic.

8/29/20244 min read

Trap (2024)

Release Date: August 2, 2024

Director: M. Night Shyamalan

Starring:Josh Hartnett, Hayley Mills, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donoghue, Alison Pill

M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap is a film that immediately caught my interest with its intriguing premise and stylish execution, but, like so many summer thrillers, it began to lose steam in the final act. If you’ve followed Shyamalan’s career, you’ll know that his films are often high-concept and twisty, and Trap is no exception. While the film starts with real potential, blending tension, humor, and a fantastic soundtrack, it ultimately unravels in its last act with increasingly unrealistic scenarios undermining its otherwise solid foundation. I’ll get into all of that, but first, let me say this: it’s not a complete disaster. In fact, there’s a lot to appreciate here.

First Impressions: A Thriller with a Twist of Nepotism

One of the more eyebrow-raising aspects of Trap is Shyamalan’s decision to cast his daughter, Saleka Night Shyamalan, as the pop superstar Lady Raven. Yes, Trap doubles as a platform for Saleka’s burgeoning music career, which can’t help but give the film a slight whiff of nepotism. Imagine if Fritz Lang had made M, but as a vehicle for his daughter to become the next Taylor Swift. That’s the vibe I got. But honestly? I’m not mad about it. Saleka’s presence as Lady Raven, the mega pop star performing at the heart of the film’s central concert sequence, is actually quite captivating. Her music—written by herself—gives the film a lively energy, and while I’m no poptimist, I found myself becoming a fan of her sound. This is definitely an artist I’ll be keeping my eye on.

Music: The Hidden Gem

The music in Trap is one of its best elements, no question about it. Saleka’s tracks as Lady Raven feel authentic, credible, and catchy. If you’re into pop music, you might find yourself humming some of her tunes afterward. The concert, filmed at Toronto’s Skydome (but masquerading as Philadelphia), serves as the backdrop for most of the film’s tension, and the music keeps things energized. Honestly, without Saleka’s haunting melodies and concert scenes, the film might have fallen apart much sooner. Her character is supposed to be a larger-than-life pop icon, and her music absolutely sells that idea. While she might not have quite the dramatic chops of her father’s past leads, she’s not bad—and for a debut in a high-stakes Shyamalan thriller, she holds her own.

Josh Hartnett: A Surprisingly Compelling Lead

Speaking of performances, let’s talk about Josh Hartnett, who plays the film’s lead, Cooper. Hartnett, who has had something of a Hollywood resurgence following his role in Oppenheimer last year, stars here as a dad who takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donaghue) to Lady Raven’s concert. At first, it seems like your typical awkward dad scenario—he’s out of place, he doesn’t care about the music, and he’s just there to make his daughter happy. But soon, it’s revealed that Cooper has much darker secrets. In fact, he’s a serial killer known as “The Butcher,” and the concert is an elaborate trap (get it?) set by the police to catch him.

Hartnett’s performance is surprisingly engaging. He balances his character’s murderous tendencies with the tender, almost mundane moments of fatherhood—like when he tries to connect with his daughter by awkwardly referencing Lady Raven’s songs. These small moments give Cooper some much-needed depth, and Hartnett’s ability to switch between the devoted dad and calculating killer keeps the tension alive. He plays the part like a low-rent Hannibal Lecter—charming, intelligent, but still dangerous. It’s a challenging role, and Hartnett pulls it off. His facial expressions alone do a lot of the heavy lifting in this film, conveying both the fear of being caught and the emotional burden of hiding his true identity from his daughter.

The Premise: High-Concept Fun, Shyamalan Style

If you’re a fan of Shyamalan’s earlier work, particularly his ability to blend the absurd with the suspenseful, Trap will likely entertain you. The entire movie is set around the concert as the police, led by a veteran profiler played by Hayley Mills (in a fun meta twist referencing The Parent Trap), attempt to capture Cooper. The tension escalates as Cooper tries to outsmart the authorities and escape without revealing his secret identity to his daughter. Shyamalan, a director who loves to play with space and perception, weaponizes the concert venue itself, using tight shots and claustrophobic settings to keep us on edge. The moments where we watch Cooper think through his escape plan are some of the film’s strongest.

But, in typical Shyamalan fashion, things start to go off the rails as the film reaches its climax. The internal logic begins to fray, and the once-taut thriller morphs into something more absurd. The final third of the film, with its numerous false endings, gets a bit ridiculous—even for a director known for pushing the boundaries of believability. As much as I wanted to root for Cooper’s escape, by the time we get to the over-the-top twists, I was more frustrated than entertained.

The Ending: Where It Falls Apart

For me, Trap had all the ingredients for a successful thriller, but it just didn’t stick the landing. The last act of the film, while entertaining in a “what is even happening anymore?” kind of way, felt too far-fetched. Shyamalan is no stranger to wild twists, but the constant barrage of unrealistic scenarios took me out of the movie. It’s hard to stay invested in a film when the characters are making choices that defy any reasonable logic. While I appreciate Shyamalan’s flair for the dramatic, sometimes less is more.

Final Thoughts: A Near Miss

Overall, Trap is far from Shyamalan’s worst work—remember The Last Airbender?—but it’s also not one of his best. The movie has a lot going for it: strong performances, a killer soundtrack, and moments of genuine tension. Hartnett is a compelling lead, and Saleka Night Shyamalan’s debut as both an actress and a musician is a highlight. But the film’s final act, with its increasingly unrealistic twists, leaves much to be desired. Trap starts strong, but by the end, it’s more of a near miss than a direct hit.

If you’re a Shyamalan fan, you’ll probably find something to enjoy here. Just don’t expect it to hold up all the way through. Hopefully, Shyamalan’s next project will bring back the tighter, more focused storytelling that made his earlier work so memorable.

My final rating? ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/10)