Trap

Is M Night Shyamalan's 'Trap' The New Twist On Unintentional Comedy?

Dive into the thrilling disaster that is M Night Shyamalan's 'Trap' featuring Josh Hartnett - a concert gone awry and a plot thicker than a dad's excuses!

If you’ve found yourself pondering whether M Night Shyamalan has lost his mojo, you may want to take a look at his latest venture, ‘Trap’. The film follows Josh Hartnett, who plays Cooper Adams, a father that attempts to create an unforgettable experience for his daughter Riley by taking her to a concert—little does he know, his ‘dad day out’ is about to get a whole lot more complicated. In typical Shyamalan style, the plot takes a twist, but instead of gasping with delight, audiences are finding themselves scratching their heads as to how a film with such promise could deteriorate into a muddled mess. Surprisingly, the only suspense seems to come not from the story itself, but from whether or not Hartnett can convincingly pull off playing a serial killer while remaining a charming ‘girl dad’.

The movie has garnered mixed reviews, with critics pointing out that the film’s premise—a father is caught up in a police sting operation at his daughter’s concert—is riveting enough on paper but falls flat in execution. While the cinematography by Sayombhu Mukdeeprom adds a flicker of intrigue, the depth of the narrative is so shallow that it's almost comical. Instead of fear or thrill, audiences are likely to feel an overwhelming sense of embarrassment on behalf of the characters, imagining what they might say to each other about this disaster if only they could break the fourth wall.

Shyamalan enthusiasts had high hopes following the buzz surrounding the film's trailer; however, the reality is that ‘Trap’ has become more of an accidental comedy than a gripping thriller. Some reviews have even labeled it as an “embarrassing promotion” for the director's daughter, who evidently stands to gain more fame from the associate than the film itself transpires to deliver. Ironically, given the chaotic plot and dizzying character arcs, it remains a mystery how Shyamalan has managed to stay so consistently unpredictable in his failings.

Despite the less-than-kind reception, ‘Trap’ still managed to attract attention, turning a few heads with an impressive haul of $2.2 million in Thursday previews, showcasing that some may still have felt the thrill of speculation was worth the ticket price. The reviews underscore a common theme that while certain filmmakers are heralded for their mastery of suspense, sometimes they can fall victim to their own convoluted storytelling techniques. In a nutshell, ‘Trap’ seems to be a testament that maybe not every twist is a thrilling one!

Interestingly enough, this year has witnessed a surge in fervent discussions around Shyamalan’s work, with critics dissecting his evolving style and incessant quest for the perfect twist. As for Hartnett, this role is just the latest in a series of attempts to showcase his range as an actor—perhaps he should stick to roles that don’t involve unsolicited horror on a family outing! With fans left yearning for Shyamalan's golden days of storytelling, the real question arises: is it time for him to hang up his directing hat or embrace the unintentional laughter? Breakdown or breakthrough? You decide!