Trap (2024) Review

RATING: 3.5/10

THERE has always been a self-aware aura surrounding M. Night Shyamalan's filmography; the man just loves creating out-of-the-ordinary, mediocre thrillers that have trouble connecting with any demographic. His latest box-office flop, Trap, is no different: a serial-killer thriller that somehow manages to be both boring and predictable despite its enticing locale of a teen-girl concert.

Father and daughter duo, Cooper (Josh Hartnett) and Riley (Ariel Donoghue), attend the concert of famous popstar Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan). But what they don't realise is the concert is under police surveillance due to the suspected sighting of a serial killer known as The Butcher. Now with the lives of 30,000 fans in danger, will Cooper and his daughter be among those who survive this chaotic concert?

Like many of his previous films, M. Night's Trap had the potential to be the movie that would re-launch the director's career back into the stratosphere. Unfortunately, expectations were a little too high as this pop concert conundrum felt the need to spoil many of its plot elements in the promotional material despite being a thriller based around who the serial-killer is. And for whatever reason, the trailers centred around giving away the identity of the killer, thus rendering the existence of Trap pointless. But for what its worth, Trap manages to be entertaining in a "so-bad-its-good" kind of way; a debacle that still ends up being bad no matter how good it can be.

Josh Hartnett does his best to carry much of the film on his back, embracing his psychotic dad persona in a performance which is equal parts terrifying and hilarious due to the environment he and his daughter find themselves trapped in. The career revival of the former 90s heartthrob continues with Trap as Hartnett's eerie mannerisms and unnerving voice make him a near-perfect choice for this, albeit, disappointing thriller. Co-star Ariel Donoghue does her best in the film, making snarky comments towards her father as any young teen would. But at the end of the day, Trap is all about Josh Hartnett and his efforts to escape without being caught by police. And while Josh does give it the old college try, Shyamalan's newest movie just isn't worth the price of admission.

This latest serial killer dad-thriller will make you feel like the one whose trapped as it doesn't know who its even made for, with much of the film centring around an impending twist that fails to shock anyone. At the end of the day, if you're wanting a truly-riveting experience from M. Night, best to re-visit his previous filmography such as The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable.