M. Night Shyamalan, the once-celebrated filmmaker known for his mind-bending twists and suspenseful storytelling, appears to be struggling to reclaim his former cinematic magic with his latest effort, Trap. Recently, Shyamalan shared a lighthearted encounter with a fan on Instagram that highlighted his influence in sci-fi cinema. The fan held a placard featuring the eerie alien footage from Shyamalan’s 2002 movie Signs, with a playful caption, “Thank you for the childhood trauma.” This nostalgic moment, however, stands in stark contrast to his current predicament, where the biggest twist seems to be his inability to harness the creative brilliance that initially catapulted him to fame.
Trap opens with Cooper, portrayed by Josh Hartnett, whose role evolves from doting father to a sinister figure. Cooper plans a special night for his daughter Riley, played by Ariel Donoghue, by taking her to watch her favorite pop star, Lady Raven, performed by Saleka Shyamalan. The special night, however, turns into a shocking revelation—Cooper is the serial killer that the FBI has been desperately hunting.
Shyamalan intricately marketed the film as a fusion of The Silence of the Lambs and a Taylor Swift concert. However, the film’s downfall starts with its premature twist reveal. By letting the cat out of the bag too early, the movie loses its suspense and thrill, a crucial element for any thriller worth its salt.
The movie attempts to magnify the glitzy atmosphere of a pop concert, resembling a lesser version of Swift’s Eras Tour. The arena, filled with glowing sticks and neon lights, echoes with the enthusiasm of thousands of teenage fans. However, viewers are left questioning the logic behind the FBI’s elaborate (and somewhat impractical) sting operation at a concert filled with twenty thousand civilians based on merely a single ticket stub.
Saleka Shyamalan’s portrayal of Lady Raven leaves much to be desired. Known for her singing abilities, Saleka’s acting skills fall short, making it seem like her part in the film was more of a “bring your daughter to work” day experiment rather than a justified casting choice. Her role, wrapped in glitter and sequins, tries but fails to match the charisma of pop icons such as Taylor Swift, leaving the audience wanting more from her lackluster performance.
M.
. Night Shyamalan’s direction, a hallmark of his earlier works, feels aimless in Trap. The premise holds a tantalizing promise of a tightly wound thriller, but it soon dissolves into a series of implausible events and lazy storytelling. The concert becomes a frustrating backdrop for poorly thought-out plot twists and unnecessary exposition, wasting an opportunity that had a lot of potential.
Even moments meant to provide comic relief fail to hit the mark. The film is filled with quirky, forgettable characters, including a talkative merch salesman who divulges crucial information too easily and Hayley Mills, the original star of The Parent Trap, who makes a brief, unimposing cameo. Cameos from pop stars Kid Cudi and Russ as performers only serve as mild distractions rather than meaningful contributions to the storyline.
Josh Hartnett, however, shines in his role as Cooper. He expertly balances the duality of his character—a devoted father and a cold-blooded killer. His restrained yet powerful performance is a beacon of what Trap could have been. Unfortunately, his complex portrayal of Cooper is undermined by the film’s overall weak narrative and unsatisfying conclusion.
Shyamalan seems to be entrapped by his own formulas. Trap attempts to traverse familiar ground laid by his earlier hits like Unbreakable and Split but lacks the ingenuity and precision that made those films stand out. It is evident that the filmmaker is going through a creative dry spell, struggling to recreate the groundbreaking storytelling that once defined his career.
Despite these setbacks, Trap is currently running in theatres, inviting audiences to judge for themselves. Yet, as the film mirrors the concert’s neon glow and glaring weaknesses, it reinforces a somber reality: Shyamalan, though still capable of attracting attention, might have lost the touch that once made his films a thrilling experience.
While the film promises the suspense and excitement synonymous with Shyamalan’s name, it falls short in delivering the cohesive, gripping narrative audiences expect. With Trap, Shyamalan simply fails to ensnare the very elements that made him a household name in Hollywood’s thriller genre.
