REVIEW: Trap (2024)

Movie Reviews

Like most people, I find M. Night Shyamalan to be hit or miss. But honestly, that’s most directors, and I think he’s only singled out because his first big movie was so popular. Anyway, I wanted to see Trap because I’m interested in themes Shyamalan tends to revisit – psychology, mysticism, and the unpredictable. The first and third are both at play in Trap, a story about a serial killer stuck in a concert venue swarming with cops and the FBI. I also really like Josh Hartnett, thanks to his work in Penny Dreadful. I’ve also become somewhat fascinated by serial killers in general, which is beyond being a cliché. I used to wonder at true crime junkies, how they could stomach the stuff. But I listen to some such podcasts at work with friends now. Anyway, let’s find out how the movie is. 

Trap follows Cooper (Hartnett), your average suburban dad and firefighter who just so happens to also be a psychotic murderer. Cooper takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to see Lady Raven (Saleka Night Shyamalan), a Taylor Swift-like performer. There’s just one catch Cooper doesn’t know about: event staff, police, and even the federal government are there looking for him. Cooper has his wits and charisma, but can he escape the concert and evade the police? How did they know he would be here? Will Riley have a good time seeing her idol live for the first time?

Trap is inspired by a real-life government sting operation that took place in 1985, as well as Taylor Swift and probably her Eras tour, based on the props and sets Lady Raven uses in the film. I had no idea M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter is a singer, let alone that she is this talented. She provides the soundtrack for Trap, bolstered by an original score by Herdís Stefánsdóttir. Lady Raven ends up being a more significant part of the film than I anticipated, giving Saleka a chance to flex her acting chops as well. She’s very likable and plays rather well off of Hartnett and Donoghue. Josh Hartnett’s Cooper is definitely the main character, and we follow his point of view throughout Trap, but I was pleasantly surprised by a couple of supporting actors. Hayley Mills has been acting since the late 1940s and is best known for Disney movies like The Parent Trap and Pollyanna. In Trap, she plays Dr. Josephine Grant, a retired FBI profiler who returns to work just to catch Cooper. She doesn’t get much screen time, but I felt she would fit right in with the BSU in Mindhunter. Jonathan Langdon plays a concert vendor named Jamie, who briefly interacts with Cooper and brings some much-needed levity to a rather bleak situation. Granted, he has no idea who he’s dealing with, which creates powerful tension and concern for Jamie’s well-being. Alison Pill plays Cooper’s wife, Rachel, Ariel Donoghue portrays their daughter, Riley, and Marnie McPhail appears as the mother of Riley’s classmate. This unnamed mom is so unlikable and controlling I wanted Cooper to make her his next victim. 

That’s partly thanks to Josh Hartnett, who leads the pack despite being surrounded by capable actors who all bring something to the table. The source of that tension is not knowing what Cooper will do. He has killed people before and wants to do so again, but we can never be sure when he will strike or show restraint. I knew from a particularly unsettling smile in the trailer that Hartnett was going to kill this, and I can now say I was right. Many people can do a creepy smile here and there, but it’s the pivot from cold and calculating to friendly and genial that sells it in Trap. Hartnett nails the duality serial killers like Ted Bundy are known for, being charming and manipulative to facilitate their dirtier deeds. Not just anyone can make friends with salespeople right off the bat or speak to a pop star one-on-one; Cooper employs every ounce of charisma and intelligence to use people in service of his ultimate goal. I particularly enjoyed a scene where another character commended Cooper and Riley for being a good family with good values. You can see why that character thinks this in the moment, but dude, you’re talking to the serial killer everyone’s looking for. There’s a lot of dramatic irony in Trap, and seeing who, if anyone, figures Cooper out is part of the fun. Hartnett’s performance makes Cooper likable and fun enough that we almost root for him, but Trap never condones his behavior. The movie never makes it out like Cooper is just misunderstood or a victim. We learn bits and pieces of his backstory, but not all of it, and I think that was a good call. It’s interesting to know what motivates serial killers and see what causes them to want to hurt people. However, it’s obviously never okay to kill people, especially not for fun, and normalizing that is dangerous. This all seems obvious, but I think many people go beyond finding these figures interesting and empathize with or romanticize them. It’s disturbing, and I find it comforting to see movies that don’t play into that. 

Trap is a lot of fun. It keeps you on the edge of your seat to see how things play out at the concert. Cooper comes in contact with different types of people and has to act accordingly, constantly adjusting his demeanor and approach. The movie makes you question who, if anyone, will piece it together. Will Cooper hurt any of these characters we’ve grown attached to? What about poor Riley, who just wants to go to a concert with her dad? Lady Raven’s performance is lively and varied, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much Trap has to offer even besides the concert. I wouldn’t read anything before seeing Trap if you plan to because I had no idea who was safe and what would happen, and that was a huge benefit to the experience.