Since M. Night Shyamalan entered our lives in 1992, he has stood out particularly for the fantastical elements in his films and the twists that leave the audience astonished. Except for his first two films at the beginning of his career, all his subsequent works have contained fantastical elements and have somehow managed to catch the audience off guard. It seems this fantastical marathon has taken a brief pause with Trap. M. Night Shyamalan, after 32 years, presents us with a film devoid of any fantastical elements, one that is logically coherent within itself. However, ironically, in its pursuit of realism, the film itself strays from realism.
Let’s briefly touch on the plot… Cooper (Josh Hartnett) brings his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by her beloved Lady Raven (Saleka). Trying to be a good father, Cooper blends in with the crowd of 30,000 young girls. However, the number of security measures around the concert raises Cooper’s suspicions. There is an excessive amount of armed security for a concert attended by little girls. Over time, he learns that a killer known as the Butcher, who terrorizes the city, is expected to be at the concert. Coincidentally, the Butcher is himself. And he is trapped in a concert area with 30,000 girls.
First and foremost, I must state that I watched the film with great pleasure until the end. Especially with Josh Hartnett’s exquisite performance, which I hope will become a classic in the future, the film keeps you engaged from start to finish. The characters he embodies throughout the film, the millisecond changes in his expressions, and his performance as the Butcher character at the end are truly commendable. The transformation from a sweet father to a savage killer is magnificent. Ariel Donoghue, who plays his daughter Riley, also does a good job by adapting to her father. There’s no need to even mention Alison Pill, a superb actress.
Although the film starts with a good idea of a fake concert setup, basing this idea on the element of chance somewhat diminishes the film’s realism. While it is enjoyable to watch Cooper constantly escape from everything by sheer luck as if he had found a four-leaf clover, it becomes tedious after a point. Especially towards the end of the film, the continuation of this element of luck behind the scenes, with Cooper constantly managing to escape despite all the improbabilities, is far from the realism I seek.
However, the most tedious parts of the film are its dialogues, particularly those of Dr. Grant, portrayed by Hayley Mills. The way Dr. Grant can predict Cooper’s actions with 100% accuracy multiple times comes off as extremely contrived. It is particularly frustrating that someone who can so accurately predict the killer’s movements fails to accomplish anything significant throughout the film. The twist where the killer is ultimately caught by his spouse rather than the supposed expert, while an interesting plot twist within the film, is quite poor in terms of character design and the choice of words. Nevertheless, the artificiality of the dialogues is not unique to Dr. Grant. Although Dr. Grant’s lines are the most prominent, the film generally struggles with dialogue issues.
M. Night Shyamalan is not someone who has trouble writing stories. However, after a long time of writing fantastical tales, his attempt to craft a realistic story has resulted in a film that is caught between the two genres. It is an enjoyable watch but occasionally strays from logical coherence, especially towards the end. Yes, despite everything, Trap is quite an enjoyable film to watch. Seeing how Cooper escapes despite being surrounded is an exciting adventure. However, to fully enjoy this entrapment story, you need to suspend your sense of logic.
Cast & Crew
director: M. Night Shyamalan
writers: M. Night Shyamalan
starring: Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka, Hayley Mills, Alison Pill
USA | 2024 | 105 MINUTES |