Trap by M. Night Shyamalan (2024)
A pop concert turns out to be an undercover operation to catch a dangerous serial killer known as “the butcher.”
Quote.
“Let’s keep this between us. Do you know the butcher? That crazy lunatic going around slicing people up? The feds found out that he’ll be here today, and they’ve set up a trap for him. The concert itself is a trap. They’re watching all the exits, keeping an eye on everyone leaving. There’s no way out.”
Monster Hunt.
It’s not just another concert of some magazine-cover pop star. This special event, this additional date on Lady Raven’s tour, is a real trap. Once you enter, there’s no way out. The police are everywhere, and among the crowd is a serial killer to catch. A man who looks completely normal, who’s brought his daughter to the concert, and who can easily hide and blend in among the other dads. No one would ever notice the difference, no one would ever suspect him as he walks by. His terrible secret, his double identity, would be safe… if it weren’t for that animal tattoo he carries on his body. A tattoo the police know about.
Thoughts.
M. Night Shyamalan writes and directs this thriller with a compelling plot and fast-paced rhythm. Trap doesn’t focus on solving a mystery. The butcher’s identity is revealed clearly in the first few minutes of the movie. In fact, it’s even revealed in the trailer. The director cleverly gets rid of the need to come up with an explosive plot twist, something everyone now expects from his work. It’s almost as if he’s saying right away: Cooper is the butcher, let everyone know. Good, now let’s move on with the rest of the film.
Once the not-so-secret identity of the serial killer is revealed, Trap becomes particularly interesting for Shyamalan’s idea of dividing the narrative into three distinct parts, offering three different perspectives on the story.
The first part gives us Cooper’s point of view, the butcher, a man with a double personality. On one hand, he’s a loving father who’s brought his daughter to the concert of her favorite singer, and on the other hand, a dangerous and sadistic criminal who locks himself in the bathroom to spy on his latest victim through his phone. This entire section takes place inside the arena hosting the concert and is incredibly claustrophobic. Shyamalan plays with distorted and angled shots that reflect the protagonist’s nature and the sense of danger he’s experiencing. The rest is carried by Josh Hartnett, the true standout of the film, with a superb performance. Every glance, every move, every gesture, and every smile, which drips with exaggerated kindness, is worth the price of admission alone.
In the second part, the focus shifts to the pop star Lady Raven (the director’s daughter). Now, she’s the one trapped, and her challenge is to find a way out of the situation without revealing anything to anyone. She’s in the butcher’s house, with his family: she knows everything, but she can’t speak, at least not openly, to prevent the situation from escalating. The audience is left feeling trapped with her, in a situation as absurd as it is disturbingly real.
Not much can be said about the third part without spoiling the ending, but what we witness is a shift to a new and different point of view. The thoughts and actions of a third character, who had been in the shadows until then, come to the forefront.
Trap is an apparently simple movie, but its real strength lies in the details. Shyamalan proves once again that he’s a highly capable and clever director, able to maintain suspense in a story that reveals “the culprit” within minutes. And that’s a skill very few possess.
Conclusion.
Trap may not be one of M. Night Shyamalan’s most well-known titles, but it stands out for its psychological approach and constant tension. The plot follows characters trapped in critical situations, exploring themes like paranoia and illusion. Shyamalan excels at creating unsettling atmospheres, and “Trap” is no exception, keeping the viewer on edge until the very end. His visual style and intricate storytelling are key elements that make this film a distinctive part of his filmography.
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