Movie Review: Trap

 

Michael's Movie Grade: B

A well-made and surprisingly straightforward thriller from M. Night Shyamalan. 

Ever since The Sixth Sense (1999), M. Night Shyamalan has been associated with big twists that ultimately change one's perspective of everything that came before. Though Trap has its twists and turns, it lacks the kind of twist the director is known for. This is a fairly simple suspense thriller. However, that is not always a bad thing. In fact, this is one of the director's more entertaining recent efforts. 

In this film's simple premise, a deranged serial killer, who has kept what he does a secret from his family, takes his teenage daughter to a pop concert. However, the authorities are tipped off that the killer might be there and make the whole concert a trap for him. With this simple premise, Shyamalan is able to get all the suspense he can. He perfectly uses the claustrophobic atmosphere of being trapped in this building to where we feel like we feel it closing in on us ourselves as the concert comes to end. What also makes this suspense work so well is the character of the daughter (played by Ariel Donoghue). While the dad may be a horrible person, the daughter is quite likable, and this concert is obviously very important to her. Because of this in way we may want something to happen to the father but in a somewhat selfish way, we don't want the daughter's day to be ruined. This makes us in a way hope that the father makes it out safely, just so the daughter can have the best night of her life. With this film being obviously inspired by Hitchcock, the way the movie messes with our moral compass during these scenes is probably the most Hitchcockian thing about it. 

I am kind of split on Josh Hartnett's performance as the killer. When he is being the goofy dad in the early scenes, he is too over the top. While in someways this is the point, he is so over the top that he frankly annoys the audience as well (this can also be said of Marnie McPhail as a mom of one of the daughter's former friends). However, in the later scenes when his true colors are shown, he is truly horrifying in the role. This is so effective that it truly keeps us on the edge of our seats. 

The director's daughter Saleka Shyamalan (a real-life singer/songwriter) plays the pop star Lady Raven, as well as writing and performing all the songs. She is truly wonderful here and the music is simply fantastic. For a story like this to work, we have to understand why the daughter is such a massive fan. We truly do here as the music is not only a delight to listen to by Saleka has wonderful stage presence as she performs these songs. 

This movie does have some passing problems though. Some scenes simply seem to go on too long and the film could have really used some good editing. Also, most of the attempts at humor fall flat (sadly true of most of the director's films). 

Also as a fan of the live-action 60's Disney movies, it was a delight to see Hayley Mills back on the big screen and she is very good here as the police profiler. 

This may not be perfect, but it is a delightful little thriller.