The trailer for "Trap" promised a gripping, high-stakes thriller, and at first glance, the film’s premise held considerable potential. The opening act delivers on some of that promise, setting up a tense and engaging narrative. However, as is often the case with M. Night Shyamalan's films, things take a turn for the peculiar. The second half, unfortunately, undermines what was initially a solid foundation, unraveling into a convoluted mess where logic and coherence are sacrificed for some odd reason.
The story follows firefighter Cooper (Josh Hartnett) as he takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert of her favorite pop star, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan). But what begins as a father-daughter outing soon spirals into chaos when Cooper notices an unusually heavy police presence within the venue. It turns out the authorities are using the concert as a trap to capture a notorious serial killer, known as The Butcher. The twist? Cooper himself is The Butcher, and now must outmaneuver the authorities to escape their trap before its too late.
"Trap's" premise and setup is genuinely intriguing, especially with Hartnett’s portrayal of a character who is both our protagonist and antagonist. His performance is a highlight, effortlessly balancing the duality of Cooper’s persona. Hartnett infuses the character with a mix of charm, cunning, and menace, making Cooper both captivating and repulsive. He delivers a layered performance that keeps the audience invested, even as the film begins to falter. "Trap", unfortunately, stumbles significantly in its second half. The decision to shift focus from Cooper to Lady Raven feels forced and ultimately derails the narrative. Saleka Shyamalan's portrayal of Lady Raven, while not perfect or ideal, is overshadowed by the film's poor writing. Her sudden elevation to protagonist, or at least how the film attempts to justify it, defy logic. While it’s clear the film intends to explore new perspectives, the execution is clumsy, and the character lacks the depth or performance necessary to carry the latter half of the film.
Another missed opportunity is the character of Dr. Josephine Grant (Hayley Mills), the FBI profiler leading the operation to capture The Butcher. Despite being positioned as a critical figure, Dr. Grant is relegated to the background with her character reduced to delivering exposition rather than actively engaging in the hunt. The script hints at a battle of wits between her and Cooper, but this potential is never realized. A side note that also put us off was how supporting characters that appear integral are introduced and then discarded without consequence, adding more fuel to the film’s sense of disarray. In the end, "Trap" is a film that had all the ingredients for success but falters under the weight of its own excesses. Hartnett’s standout performance is not enough to save a story that loses its way, and while there are flashes of brilliance, they are too often drowned out by narrative inconsistency and questionable character decisions. What could have been a tight, gripping thriller instead becomes a muddled and frustrating experience.
Trap(2024) Movie Review: A Literal Trap
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