This latest outing from M. Night Shyamalan marks a noticeable step up from some of his previous efforts. This peculiar but undeniably interesting psychological horror/thriller movie, Trap (2024), stars Josh Hartnett as the seemingly friendly, next-door-neighbor type but who is secretly a serial killer. The movie corrects the course on a few of Shyamalan’s past misfires and delivers something that genuinely puts butts in seats, arguably one of his best works to date.
It wouldn’t be a proper Shyamalan movie without him making a cameo, but he doesn’t stop there; he takes it a step further by casting his daughter as the co-main star. The role of Lady Raven is played by his real-life daughter, Saleka, an artist in her own right. Interestingly, the stage name she uses in the movie happens to be the title of her album, which was being released at the time, making this a savvy casting choice, perhaps even with a hint of strategic intent to capitalize on the album's promotion.
Lady Raven is the pop sensation whose presence sets the stage for a memorable father-daughter outing, as they, along with thousands of eager and excited fans, rush to see her perform live in concert as she makes her highly anticipated stop in town.
Amidst the overwhelming excitement and electric energy of the crowd, a chilling truth quietly lurks in plain sight. Hartnett’s character, Cooper, who appears to be Riley’s (Ariel Donoghue) seemingly ordinary and well-meaning father, is actually the infamous and widely feared serial killer known as “The Butcher.”
Don’t worry this isn’t giving anything away. The fact that Cooper is a serial killer is central to the movie’s plot and becomes clear early on, as we watch him monitor a live video feed of someone he has kidnapped. Soon after, he finds himself trapped inside the venue, which is completely surrounded by FBI agents following a tip that “The Butcher” would be in attendance.
The character of Cooper is quite interesting, to say the very least, and may not resonate with everyone, as his mannerisms and expressions are highly animated, at times even exaggerated, and often border on the unnatural. The movie takes a bold and unconventional approach by portraying the villain as more eccentric and oddly humorous rather than traditionally fierce and intimidating. It’s a decision that, depending on your perspective or taste, either detracts from the tone of the movie or enhances its overall entertainment value, which, in our opinion, is certainly the latter. As for Hartnett, this feels like one of those unique roles that people will remember him for long after the credits roll.
For a Shyamalan movie, it’s surprisingly straightforward and simple, perhaps that’s exactly why it feels so effective. With Riley left completely in the dark and entirely unaware of her father’s double life, Cooper is forced to juggle the increasingly tense predicament of not only looking after his daughter, but also bouncing around the venue, trying to come up with a plan for how he’s going to escape without getting caught.
A far-from-incognito Cooper brazenly mingles in the midst of authorities as the stakes continue to rise. He navigates one sticky situation after another, with the ever-present risk of being apprehended feeling just moments away at any given turn. Whether it’s the first, second, or final act, the movie never loses its mojo and constantly keeps you guessing what’s about to happen next, as Shyamalan predictably throws in a few twists and surprises along the way.
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