Spoiler Warning!!
It’s been a while since I’ve seen an M. Night Shyamalan film since Signs and Split. So I was interested in seeing his latest original film, Trap. Upon watching the trailer, I got the feeling that it’s not a horror film per se. This film was based on a real-life sting operation in 1985 called Operation Flagship. Shyamalan described this movie as ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ at a Taylor Swift concert. It is a pretty unique concept on paper. Is it thoroughly executed on screen? Let’s find out, shall we?
Philadelphia Firefighter dad Cooper Abbot (Josh Hartnett) takes time off work to take his daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a pop concert hosted by Lady Raven (M. Night Shyamalan’s oldest daughter and real-life singer, Saleka). It seems like a happy father-daughter day except for the number of security guards, police, and SWAT teams making Cooper oddly uncomfortable. Here’s the twist…Cooper is a notorious serial killer known to the public as “The Butcher”. The authorities led by FBI profiler Dr. Josephine Grant (Hayley Mills) have everything planned to ensure he has no means of escape. Cooper seeks to escape this elaborate trap and somehow not have his serial killer life collide, but these psychological barriers might eat him alive.
In the real-life operation, it worked. The logic of the operation in this movie has a lot of contradictions. One is staff worker Jamie (Jonathan Langdon) who unknowingly tells Cooper of the FBI’s plan to capture him and where the killer might escape backstage. It’s coincidences and conveniences from here on out. Quite honestly…Jamie telling Cooper of their plan is what made the film fall apart. I know it’s for the viewers to understand what is happening, but I wish it was more of a mystery. The security in this film should have been less obvious and the people trying to catch him should have been undercover at the concert. Having a lot of security guards and SWAT members posted everywhere will make a serial killer like Cooper more obvious and alert.
Also, security should have been more suspicious of Cooper when they got word that a staff member’s key card and police tactical radio had been stolen. In addition, a bystander or a security guard should have caught Cooper about to pull the fire alarm to escape. They should have had a list of all the people who work at this concert to immediately spot out who is not a staff member. I almost forgot…Why didn’t the FBI have a sketch or some identification of what Cooper looks like? I guess they hinted that Cooper is just efficient enough to hide his face from the authorities and somehow manage a family/job as a firefighter (Speaking of which, how did he get the job without letting the first sign of his serial killer behaviors slip?)
Right. Hartnett’s Cooper was strangely enjoyable for what it’s worth. He was funny due to his charm and twisted wit. I did find it oddly poignant how his character transformed. There is the Cooper who is trying to be a family man and a lovable goofball. Then there is the serial killer Cooper who couldn’t contain his urge to kill more innocent people. Both of these personalities merge into the “monster” after being ousted by Lady Raven.
Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka got a fair amount of screen time which is surprising, but not surprising since she is the director’s daughter. She did fine in her own right as a performer and actress. However, I still say that nepotism is still a sin people in Hollywood commit. All of the supporting cast members did okay as well. They didn’t get as much screentime as Hartnett, Donoghue, or Saleka but they did good.
Trap is a watchable movie filled with conveniences that any critic would poke holes at. It is only held together through the power of Hartnett’s twisted characterization of Cooper that makes it enjoyable. Oh…if you’re asking what the twist is in this movie, the twist is…it’s a setup for a potential sequel. Once the FBI caught Cooper, he managed to smuggle a piece of tire bead from his daughter’s bicycle and picked the locks of his handcuffs, as he laughed manically preparing for his escape. So yeah…the studio is hoping for a part two. If nothing else, another standalone movie set in the same timeframe as this one. I will say it is commendable for Shamalyan to direct a concert while directing a film.
Rating: 3.5/5
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