Trap follows Cooper (Josh Hartnett) as he takes his daughter to a concert only to find that the FBI and the local police have gotten a tip that a serial killer will be in attendance. The twist? That Cooper is that serial killer and his daughter does not know.
The first two thirds of this movie is a slow buildup to a great third act. During that build up, some of the characters make some weird decisions in regards to how trusting they are. If I knew I were locked in a building with a serial killer, I wouldn’t trust the guy asking obvious questions only a guilty man would ask. Shyamalan’s direction gives us uncomfortable close-ups of Cooper as he tries to find a way to escape, an intimate POV of the killer. I believe it’s meant to be off putting, as is the smile that Hartnett wears as he gathers information. That intention is why that first two thirds of the film works. It doesn’t always work great, but it is convincing enough to make the third act believable.
The third act is a tense showcase of the acting talents of Josh Hartnett and Alison Pill. They both bring their A-game and it is in those performances that this film succeeds.
The weakest aspect of the film is Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven, the pop star that is supposed to have a Taylor Swift like presence. While there are moments where Saleka really shows up to act, there are also moments where she seems emotionless. I don’t believe that she is a pop star, which is especially troubling because the film showcases some of her own real life music. She is a singer outside of the film industry, so I had expected her to have a bigger presence.
Trap also tries in the beginning to say something on the negative effects of social media on younger people, but then turns around later and uses social media to save a character. Sad that it didn’t stay at one end of the spectrum or the other. Shyamalan tries to give us a red herring in a relationship with Cooper’s neighbor, but it goes nowhere and the character is forgotten about by the third act. Would have liked to see that plot point go gull circle.
I thought the build up was okay, but the third act really shines. There is Shyamalan’s usual awkward dialogue and pacing, but I think it actually plays in this movie’s favor. It adds to the unsettling nature of the story. Josh Hartnett was the real draw for me. Put him in a horror movie and I’ll show up every time.
Three out of five stars.
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Becky Tyler Art and Photography 
Trap follows Cooper (Josh Hartnett) as he takes his daughter to a concert only to find that the FBI and the local police have gotten a tip that a serial killer will be in attendance. The twist? That Cooper is that serial killer and his daughter does not know.
The first two thirds of this movie is a slow buildup to a great third act. During that build up, some of the characters make some weird decisions in regards to how trusting they are. If I knew I were locked in a building with a serial killer, I wouldn’t trust the guy asking obvious questions only a guilty man would ask. Shyamalan’s direction gives us uncomfortable close-ups of Cooper as he tries to find a way to escape, an intimate POV of the killer. I believe it’s meant to be off putting, as is the smile that Hartnett wears as he gathers information. That intention is why that first two thirds of the film works. It doesn’t always work great, but it is convincing enough to make the third act believable.
The third act is a tense showcase of the acting talents of Josh Hartnett and Alison Pill. They both bring their A-game and it is in those performances that this film succeeds.
The weakest aspect of the film is Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven, the pop star that is supposed to have a Taylor Swift like presence. While there are moments where Saleka really shows up to act, there are also moments where she seems emotionless. I don’t believe that she is a pop star, which is especially troubling because the film showcases some of her own real life music. She is a singer outside of the film industry, so I had expected her to have a bigger presence.
Trap also tries in the beginning to say something on the negative effects of social media on younger people, but then turns around later and uses social media to save a character. Sad that it didn’t stay at one end of the spectrum or the other. Shyamalan tries to give us a red herring in a relationship with Cooper’s neighbor, but it goes nowhere and the character is forgotten about by the third act. Would have liked to see that plot point go gull circle.
I thought the build up was okay, but the third act really shines. There is Shyamalan’s usual awkward dialogue and pacing, but I think it actually plays in this movie’s favor. It adds to the unsettling nature of the story. Josh Hartnett was the real draw for me. Put him in a horror movie and I’ll show up every time.
Three out of five stars.
Discover more from Becky Tyler Art and Photography
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
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