TRAP: M. Night Shyamalan’s Gripping Thriller !

Following the success of The Watcher released earlier in June, M. Night Shyamalan returns this week with a new production: TRAP. This intense thriller, now in theaters, is set at the heart of a concert and features the mesmerizing soundtrack by the young composer Saleka Shyamalan, the director’s daughter. Immersed in a tense and captivating atmosphere, we had the opportunity to watch this film. Here is our review.

Trap centers on Cooper, a young firefighter and family man, who takes his daughter to see her favorite singer in concert. However, what should have been an enjoyable evening takes an unexpected turn when he realizes he is surrounded by a device meant to capture him. The situation becomes even more complicated when it’s revealed that Cooper is not just a devoted father but also the feared serial killer known as “The Butcher.” Trapped inside the concert hall, he must find a way to escape without raising suspicion while protecting his darkest secret.

Cooper is the central character in Trap, with the film experienced entirely through his perspective. For this reason, it was crucial for the character to be as complex as he is fascinating. Josh Hartnett, who plays Cooper, found the role both challenging and exhilarating. He explains that striking the right balance was essential to keep the audience engaged while delving into the depths of the character. This challenge was one of Hartnett’s main motivations for taking on the role. On screen, the desired effect is palpable, keeping viewers on the edge of their seats throughout the film. Despite knowing that Cooper is, in reality, a formidable killer, viewers form an oddly emotional attachment to the father and his daughter.

This is precisely the effect M. Night Shyamalan aimed for in producing Trap. The producer sought to reveal the tiny sliver of humanity that resides in Cooper, despite his heinous acts. It is this humanity that touches the audience, evoking unexpected empathy. The bond he has with his daughter, his devotion as a “good father,” and the joy of his daughter fulfilling her dream of meeting her idol because of him almost make us forget Cooper’s true nature. Moreover, this effect is certainly intentional, as the film shows no scenes of “The Butcher’s” actions. Instead, we see simply a father and his daughter attending a concert together.

The Lady Raven concert at the heart of Trap was entirely conceived by M. Night Shyamalan and his daughter, Saleka, during an inspiring discussion that led to this unique project. Saleka also plays Lady Raven, Riley’s idol, in the film. For this role, she drew not only from her character but also from the film’s plot to compose the album and arrange the tracklist. The team’s goal was to capture a genuine concert experience without any artifice. On screen, the scenes where Cooper and Riley interact during the concert are authentic, thanks to an ingenious setup: the audience was equipped with headphones to lower the concert’s volume, allowing the actors to perform their scenes in real time. Despite having only 300 spectators on set, the magic of cinema made it look like a packed house of 15,000 seats.

The immersion in the story of Trap is largely due to the way the film was shot. M. Night Shyamalan made the bold choice to shoot on film rather than digitally. Although this might seem limiting, the director argues that film captures life and reality in a unique way. Unlike digital, which emphasizes precision and detail, film allows for a focus on essential elements: the characters and the light. According to Shyamalan, “it’s extraordinary to feel a film breathe, move, live, because the image isn’t perfectly sharp.” This approach gives the film a vibrant, almost organic texture that enhances the viewer’s engagement with the story.

Trap is a film that managed to captivate us despite the absence of standout action scenes. The suspense, skillfully maintained from start to finish, kept us on the edge of our seats. The attention to detail is particularly noteworthy, especially in the sequence of concert music, which is closely tied to the progression of scenes and Cooper’s actions. As the trap closes in on him, we see just how far he is willing to go to escape the venue. We had a great time watching this film, and it did not disappoint us.