Actor Josh Hartnett burst onto the big screen with large roles in 1998’s Halloween H20 and The Faculty. Director M. Night Shyamalan had massive mainstream success with only his third feature film, The Sixth Sense, in 1999. With that kind of similar history, perhaps it was inevitable that these two men would eventually join forces. Now they finally have. Trap is a solid and efficient thriller, mostly thanks to Hartnett’s performance.
Hartnett plays Cooper, who’s taking his adolescent daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert for pop star Lady Raven (played by Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka). But sinister things are going on under the surface. Cooper is also The Butcher, a violent serial killer. And the concert is also a trap set up by law enforcement to try and catch him. The police and FBI have infiltrated the event and Cooper won’t be able to leave without being questioned. And the FBI profiler on-site will make sure that if he’s questioned, he’s caught. Cooper must figure out a way to escape with his daughter without making her suspicious. But he can’t keep the complications from mounting.
Despite the familiarity of its plot, Trap is an entertaining genre film. The music, bits of humor, and Shyamalan’s sturdy direction add to Hartnett’s strong work. It’s a worthwhile thriller for the summer.
“I release you.”
There is no mystery in this film about who The Butcher is. The trailers even spoil that. Cooper notices the police presence at the concert as he and his daughter enter, then checks on his latest hostage through his phone. The point of the story is not who did it. It’s about what happens when the two parts of his life collide. The plot forces the viewer to be a little complicit with Cooper as we experience events with him. We don’t exactly empathize with him but we are interested in how he will be caught.
Hartnett is the main reason why this works. His performance is what it should be at any given moment. Early on, he captures the sense that he loves his daughter but he is also putting on an act around her to keep his secret. And the audience can tell that difference. Later, in the final act, when the plot is on shakier ground, he is chilling. On top of that, Cooper is resourceful and clever all along, and Hartnett shows that consistently.
A treat out of the rest of the cast is an appearance by Hayley Mills as the FBI profiler out to catch Cooper. She’s not on screen much but her veteran presence is just the right amount of balance to the youthful energy of the concert. Another standout is Alison Pill as Cooper’s wife, who comes into focus in the final part of the film. Also, don’t make the mistake of thinking Saleka Shyamalan’s inclusion here is down to nepotism. She has talent as a singer and actor, aside from writing the songs, too.
“Everyone is in pieces.”
Shyamalan is known for this genre, of course, and he seems to be gaining more confidence in the visual aspects of filmmaking as the years go by. The storytelling of his earlier, twistier films sometimes felt fresher. But this one is mostly intriguing. There is no twist like he’s famous for, but Shyamalan is allowing classic influences to seep into his work here. With Cooper’s occasional visions of his mother, Hitchcock’s Psycho is the most obvious one. It’s a good example to follow.
This film also feels a bit like those action movies that take place in one confined space, like Die Hard. Despite the fact that the roles are reversed and it’s the bad guy who is sneaking around and evading in this movie. When the final moment leaves open the potential for more with Hartnett’s character, well, it makes sense. Shyamalan has experience in that area, thanks to Split. And Hartnett‘s performance is the central element of this film. Trap works pretty well, thanks to the combination of Josh Hartnett and M. Night Shyamalan. You should be in line for it if thrillers are your thing.
Trap is now playing in theaters.
