Trap Review: M. Night Shyamalan's Concert of Suspense
Trap Review: M. Night Shyamalan's Concert of Suspense
In an era where blockbusters are as predictable as a pop star's choreography, M. Night Shyamalan's "Trap" arrives like an unexpected key change in a familiar melody. This audacious thriller, set against the backdrop of a Taylor Swift-esque concert, proves that Shyamalan still has a few surprises up his sleeve – even if some of them hit a few flat notes.
A Serial Killer's Serenade
Warning: This article contains major spoilers for Trap. If you haven't seen the movie yet, proceed at your own risk!
At the center of this cacophony of suspense is Josh Hartnett's Cooper, a doting dad with a deadly secret. Hartnett, once Hollywood's go-to heartthrob, turns in a performance that's as unsettling as it is charismatic. His Cooper is a Norman Bates for the Spotify era, all easy smiles and repressed mommy issues. Watching Hartnett navigate the crowded arena, trying to evade capture while maintaining his façade of normalcy, is like witnessing a high-wire act performed inches from the ground – thrilling, but with an ever-present sense that a fall is imminent.
Concert Venue as Character
Shyamalan, ever the cinematic ringmaster, orchestrates his setting with a keen eye for both spectacle and claustrophobia. The concert venue becomes a character in itself, its pulsing lights and screaming fans serving as both camouflage and obstacle for our anti-hero. It's a clever conceit, even if the execution sometimes feels more like a greatest hits compilation than a breakthrough album.
Fun Fact: Shyamalan's daughter, Saleka, not only stars as pop sensation Lady Raven but also wrote and performed all the original songs for the film.
Supporting Acts
The supporting cast, including Ariel Donoghue as Cooper's unsuspecting daughter and Hayley Mills as a frosty FBI profiler, hit their marks with precision. However, it's the interplay between Hartnett and Alison Pill, as Cooper's wife Rachel, that provides some of the film's most electrifying moments. Their final confrontation crackles with the intensity of a power ballad's crescendo.
Plausibility: The Weakest Link
Where "Trap" occasionally loses its rhythm is in its plausibility. The FBI's plan to catch a serial killer at a packed concert venue stretches credibility thinner than a worn guitar string. And while Shyamalan has never been one to shy away from the improbable, here the leaps of logic sometimes threaten to break the spell he's so carefully woven.
Visual Virtuosity
Visually, the film benefits greatly from the expert eye of cinematographer Sayombhu Mukdeeprom. His camera glides through the concert crowd with the fluidity of a well-oiled roadie, capturing both the frenetic energy of the performance and the mounting dread of our protagonist's predicament.
Embracing the Absurd
"Trap" is at its best when it leans into its premise's inherent absurdity. A cameo by Kid Cudi as a preening pop star rival and Shyamalan's own appearance as Lady Raven's overeager uncle provide welcome moments of levity amidst the tension. These touches remind us that even in the darkest thriller, there's room for a bit of playfulness.
Verdict: An Ambitious Encore
In the end, "Trap" is like that experimental album from your favorite artist – not every track is a banger, but you've got to admire the ambition. Shyamalan's willingness to take risks in an increasingly risk-averse Hollywood landscape is commendable, even if the results are sometimes as messy as a mosh pit.
Is "Trap" perfect? Far from it. But in a summer movie season stuffed with sequels and reboots, its off-key originality hits a refreshing note. Like Cooper himself, the film may not always make the smartest choices, but it certainly knows how to command an audience's attention.
So grab your metaphorical glow sticks, suspend your disbelief at the door, and prepare for a cinematic concert that, while not always pitch-perfect, certainly deserves an encore.