M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, Trap, will keep you on the edge, with alternating doses of anxiety and relief.
A man (Josh Hartnett) and his teenage daughter realize they’re at the center of a dark and sinister event while watching a concert.
M. Night Shyamalan is known for his skill in crafting thrilling stories that blend realism and fantasy. His film “The Visit” demonstrates his unique approach to storytelling and artistic flair. While the movie is more subdued compared to his other works, it still manages to captivate with its portrayal of a serial killer. The use of cameras in the film provides a voyeuristic perspective, drawing the audience into the unsettling world of the story. Shyamalan skillfully weaves in character development and moral dilemmas, making the film a thought-provoking experience.
I found much of the movie’s dialogue to be natural and not forced or preachy. However, at times, certain characters seemed to receive more focus and power than expected, possibly due to nepotism. The acting is quite good overall, especially Allison Pill’s performance, which comes late in the movie. She delivers an incredible display of emotions that the movie requires. Her accent, poise, and narrator quality are always enchanting as she tries to coordinate the case. Josh Hartnett, who plays the serial killer, may not be the most engaging, but I appreciated how he meshed with the direction of the film. He feels very much in character with this complicated role and did a great job handling the demands of the story.
The movie is quite entertaining. It has a good balance of comedy and darker material without one overshadowing the other. Surprisingly, the movie incorporates a concert element beyond just the venue. Saleka’s acting is impressive, especially her singing, which captivates the audience in the stadium. Some of the songs are enjoyable and the spectacle, while simple, is effective in entertaining the audience, complemented by a beautiful voice.
The most impressive aspect is that Shyamalan has effectively planned the story, incorporating realistic elements, strategies, and actions that someone of a serial killer’s caliber would thrive in. This adds depth to the profiling mentioned earlier. It was intelligent, and diverse, and utilized the concert stadium effectively in their cat-and-mouse journey.
Overall, Trap is a movie that feels like a combination of Lifetime Drama and Law And Order. The unique venue and cunning story planning from the mind of a serial killer make it an entertaining piece. The movie’s lighter content allows it to be enjoyed by many, and the cleverness and lack of excessive violence make it more engaging. The inclusion of fun comedy about the state of the world and society, as well as the artistic presentation, make it a dramatic film that should be interesting to watch to some extent.
However, if you’re expecting the next X or Slasher film, you won’t quite get that from this movie. Shyamalan’s tale is a bit too artistic for my taste, focusing more on conversation, dialogue, and drama than the actual thriller aspect. The character usage, the balance of conversation to crime, and the pacing all suffer or are lacking in comparison to the thrills and chills that a serial killer film is supposed to bring.
Although I appreciated the direction at times, the lack of depth in the characters and the mundane level of excitement makes this movie a bit of a slog at times, losing the potential it had built up in the earlier parts of the film. Finally, the level of disbelief becomes a bit too much at times. I would have liked to see the same intelligence and character usage from the early parts of the film continue until the end. Still, it’s worth a trip to the theater for those looking for a night out for a fun drama.
Trap is now playing in theaters
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