Trap (Vietnamese Title: Bẫy) is the latest project directed, written, and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. He is known as the “master of horror” in Hollywood, having created numerous famous works such as The Sixth Sense (1999), Unbreakable (2000), Signs (2002), and The Village (2004).
Unfortunately, upon its release, Trap failed to captivate both audiences and critics due to its limited script and forced plot points.
A Deadly Performance
The film features a rather simple plot centered around the main character Cooper (Josh Hartnett) – a middle-aged father living with his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) in Philadelphia.
To reward Riley for her good academic performance, Cooper agrees to take her to a concert by the music star Lady Raven (Saleka Night Shyamalan), who is her idol.
Upon arrival, Cooper quickly realizes that many police officers are present at the event. It turns out that the entire concert is just a “trap” set by the authorities to capture the infamous crazy murderer known as The Butcher.
From that point on, the concert becomes a tense battle of wits between two factions: the police and the murderer. Riley is also shocked to discover the terrifying truth that her father has been hiding all along.
The script by M. Night Shyamalan presents a fascinating concept by intertwining a serial killer story within the context of a concert filled with thousands of fans.
According to Empire, the director aimed to create a new version of The Silence of the Lambs (1991) set during a lucrative tour, similar to Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour.
The film starts off quite well, establishing a dark and mysterious atmosphere. However, when the police arrive, the content becomes predictable, losing its intrigue. The script mainly revolves around a “cat-and-mouse” chase between the two sides, but the villain is not developed deeply enough to evoke the necessary fear.
Trap follows M. Night Shyamalan’s familiar formula, attempting to weave in several twists at the end to surprise the audience. However, the script suffers from logical flaws, with some elements feeling poorly integrated and confusing for viewers.
In fact, Entertainment Weekly rated it as one of the “most nonsensical” works in M. Night Shyamalan’s career. The Guardian described the film as “messy” and “disappointing.”
The film also attempts to explore the father-daughter relationship but falls short. Some dialogues feel unnatural, preventing the characters from resonating emotionally with the audience.
Additionally, the film features numerous bloody and violent scenes, earning a T16 rating (restricted for viewers under 16) upon its release in Vietnam. However, these scenes fail to effectively establish a sense of horror and fear.
M. Night Shyamalan’s Decline
Over more than 30 years in the industry, M. Night Shyamalan has created many groundbreaking works that have significantly impacted the horror genre.
However, recently the Indian-born director has struggled to maintain consistent quality. His two latest projects, Old (2021) and Knock at the Cabin (2023), received poor reviews and performed disappointingly at the box office.
Hence, Trap is seen as a gamble for the “master of horror,” with a production budget of up to $30 million. M. Night Shyamalan also placed considerable trust in casting Josh Hartnett in the lead role.
Previously, the 1978-born actor had a long hiatus from the spotlight until his return and positive reception for his role in Oppenheimer (2023).
In the role of Cooper, Josh Hartnett impresses with a character that is completely different in appearance and personality from his typical roles.
The actor effectively utilizes his chiseled features and deep-set eyes to develop the character. Even in moments of panic, Cooper maintains a disturbingly calm expression, making it impossible for viewers to guess what he is thinking. This aspect helps the film garner favor in its first half.
The supporting actors deliver solid performances. Ariel Donoghue convincingly portrays a music-obsessed teenager. Saleka Night Shyamalan – the daughter of director M. Night Shyamalan – also drew inspiration from Taylor Swift to portray the pop star in the film.
However, acting alone did not help Trap receive positive feedback upon its release. The film quickly fell into the “Rotten” category on Rotten Tomatoes with a 55% rating from critics and a score of 6.2/10 on IMDb.
Most reviews criticize the film for its weak script, with many plot points poorly handled, leading to a disappointing conclusion for viewers. The father-daughter motif has been used numerous times in Hollywood, but M. Night Shyamalan has not succeeded in effectively exploring the story of a murderer.
Some viewers acknowledge the director’s efforts to create new, original stories rather than leaning on outdated horror franchises. However, this remains an average-quality work that disappoints fans of the “master of horror.”
