Film review: ‘TRAP’ by Nick Gardener from ‘Built For Speed’
Writer/ Director M. Night Shyamalan has become a strange addiction for filmgoers. After the first magical rush of The Sixth Sense 25 years ago, we’ve been chasing that cinematic high ever since… but it has never come. Some of his films have started promisingly, featured some novel ideas and contained inventive visuals but they’ve invariably given way to glaring tonal inconsistencies and ludicrous plot devices that have left audiences shaking their sweaty fists at the screen. So, has his latest effort, the crime thriller Trap bucked the unfortunate trend and delivered a consistent, exciting and credible story, or is it more of the same?
Tantalisingly, the early part of this film suggests M. Night has taken a turn to more conventional but effective thrillers. Here, doting and slightly dorky dad, Cooper (Josh Hartlett) accompanies his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to an arena concert by pop diva Lady Raven (Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka). Cooper looks suspicious, though, as he constantly eyes the exits and the small army of police in attendance. Apparently, the extra police presence is due to a tip-off that a notorious serial killer named ‘the Butcher’ – who’s appearance is unknown – is at the gig. It’s no spoiler, as it’s made apparent very early in the film and in the trailer that Cooper is ‘the Butcher’.
Most of the film’s first half is about Cooper recognising that he’s cornered and trying to devise a way out. During this part of the movie Shyamalan does a decent job of establishing the environment and the logistics of the cat and mouse game Cooper plays with police and security. Shyamalan conjures some palpable tension as the devious and clearly dangerous Cooper becomes more desperate. Importantly, Shyamalan paces this part of the film well giving us a decent amount of time with the characters and even allowing entire Lady Raven songs to play out to immerse us in this world. Refreshingly, he avoids the manic editing approach that others may have been tempted to use in this scenario.
Steadily and regretfully, though, the old Shyamalan flaws begin to emerge. One implausible coincidence, lucky break and astonishingly convenient security lapse follows another. Many thrillers struggle to pull off a third act and to resolve a story after a careful build up and here Shyamalan’s often ludicrous scenarios and abandonment of logic see much of the good will generated in the film’s first half trashed. Add to that some cringeworthy dialogue and audience fists are beginning to clench once again.
The cast, however, battle admirably with the substandard scrip. Josh Hartnett brings an imposing physical presence, a sense of menace and (at least initially) some likeability to the character of Cooper. His impact is muted, though, by the fact that we don’t know anything about Cooper before the concert scenes and don’t subsequently learn enough about his background and the factors that have led this loving father becoming a crazed murderer. As his daughter, young Ariel Donoghue also does a fine job capturing the excitement of a young person seeing their music idol and the confusion of a child learning awful truths about their parent. Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka delivers an ok performance, it’s not Sofia Coppola in The Godfather 3 but the role seems to have been designed to promote her career.
After raising our hopes and getting us excited like a teen at a Lady Raven concert, Shyamalan unfortunately pulls the rug from under us once again. Trap is not the convincing resurrection of M. Night’s cred for which we might have hoped.
Nick’s rating: **1/2
Genre: Drama/ Action/ Thriller
Classification: M.
Director(s): M. Night Shyamalan.
Release date: 1st Aug 2024.
Running time: 105 mins.
Reviewer: Nick Gardener can be heard on “Built For Speed” every Friday night from 8-10pm on 88.3 Southern FM.