Trap

M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, Trap, embarks on an ambitious adventure that blends the energy of a pop concert with the tension of a psychological thriller. With a story revolving around the revelation that a seemingly harmless father is a notorious serial killer, the film offers a fascinating premise. However, as intriguing as the idea is, the execution leaves much to be desired, leading to a film that oscillates between moments of genuine suspense and periods of contrived storytelling.

The central character, Cooper Adams, played by Josh Hartnett, is a Philadelphia firefighter who, at first glance, appears to be the quintessential suburban family man. He takes his teenage daughter, Riley Adams, played by Ariel Donoghue, to see her favorite pop star, Lady Raven, played by Saleka Shyamalan, M. Night Shyamalan's real-life daughter. The father-daughter duo's outing, which begins as an innocent reward for Riley's academic achievements, quickly turns into chaos when it's revealed that Cooper is in fact The Butcher, a serial killer who has eluded law enforcement for years.

Josh Hartnett's portrayal of Cooper Adams is arguably the film's greatest strength. Josh Hartnett perfectly captures the duality of his character, moving from affable, joke-loving father to cold, calculating serial killer with disconcerting ease. His performance imbues Cooper with a terrifying complexity, making him a figure of both sympathy and horror. It's in this complexity that Trap finds its emotional core, even if the film often struggles to delve deeply into Cooper's psyche, missing opportunities to explore the darker recesses of his mind and the implications of his double life.

The pop music concert, where much of the film's action takes place, provides a unique backdrop that M. Night Shyamalan uses to his advantage, creating a sense of claustrophobia and mounting tension as Cooper realizes that the venue is swarming with police and FBI agents. The authorities, led by Dr. Josephine Grant, played by Hayley Mills, have set up the concert as a trap to capture The Butcher. The dynamic between Cooper and the law enforcement agents, as well as his interactions with his unsuspecting daughter, are among the film's most captivating elements.

However, the film's pace suffers from an excess of concert sequences. Although Saleka Shyamalan's interpretation of Lady Raven is convincing and captures the frenetic energy of a live concert, these scenes often seem to drag on. The concert sequences, while visually striking, sometimes detract from the central narrative, breaking the tension just when it should be tightening. This overindulgence in showcasing Lady Raven's performance seems like an attempt to blend M. Night Shyamalan's personal affection for his daughter's music with the film's plot, but it often disrupts the film's rhythm.

M. Night Shyamalan, known for his slow-burning suspense and plot twists, is present in Trap, but the twists don't have the impact of his previous works like The Sixth Sense or Unbreakable. The film's big reveal, that Cooper is the butcher, comes very early and is even hinted at in the promotional material, which somewhat diminishes its shock value. Subsequent plot twists, while clever, seem more obligatory than genuinely surprising, resulting in a sense of predictability that reduces the film's suspense potential.

Visually, Trap benefits from the work of cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom, whose credits include Apichatpong Weerasethakul and Luca Guadagnino. Sayombhu Mukdeeprom's use of tight spaces, close-ups and offbeat angles effectively reflects the psychological evolution of Cooper Adams, adding a layer of visual tension that complements the narrative. However, the cinematography sometimes borders on the claustrophobic, which, while effective in creating a sense of anxiety, can also make the film visually repetitive.

The supporting cast, notably Hayley Mills as Dr. Josephine Grant and Alison Pill as Cooper's wife Rachel Adams, add depth to the film, though they are often underused. Hayley Mills, in particular, brings a certain gravitas to her role as a determined FBI profiler, although the film doesn't fully explore her character's potential. Similarly, Alison Pill's portrayal of Rachel Adams is convincing, but her late introduction to the story feels like a missed opportunity to explore the domestic life of a man leading a double life as a family man and serial killer.

The film's climax, which takes place outside the concert hall, marks a shift in tone that some viewers may find disturbing. As the narrative moves away from the confined environment of the concert, the film loses interest and the plot becomes increasingly convoluted. The final act, which should have been a crescendo of tension and resolution, instead feels disjointed, with multiple false endings that dilute the story's impact.

Despite these flaws, Trap succeeds in creating moments of genuine tension and offers a unique take on the thriller genre. It's a film that's both fascinating and frustrating, full of potential but often stumbling over its own ambitions. M. Night Shyamalan's attempt to merge a psychological thriller with the spectacle of a pop concert is an interesting experiment, but not entirely successful.

Trap is a film that reflects both the strengths and weaknesses of M. Night Shyamalan's cinema. It highlights his ability to create suspense and intriguing characters, but also his tendency to overuse certain elements to the detriment of narrative coherence. For fans of M. Night Shyamalan's work, Trap is worth seeing for its unique premise and solid performances, especially from Josh Hartnett. However, it may not leave the lasting impression of some of M. Night Shyamalan's early masterpieces, instead lingering as a curious, if imperfect, addition to his filmography.

Trap
Written and directed by M. Night Shyamalan
Produced by Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock, M. Night Shyamalan
Starring Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Night Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, Alison Pill
Cinematography: Sayombhu Mukdeeprom
Edited by Noëmi Preiswerk
Music by Herdís Stefánsdóttir
Production company : Blinding Edge Pictures
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures
Release dates : July 24, 2024 (Alice Tully Hall), August 2, 2024 (United States), august 7 2024 (France)
Running time : 105 minutes

seen July 2 at Grauman's Chinese Theatre (Los Angeles)
re-released July 10, 2024 at Gaumont Disney Village, Room 9 place A19

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