Movie Review | ‘Trap’ – A thrilling game

It was meant to be a lovely afternoon between dad and daughter. The pair were all set to enjoy a concert for pop sensation Lady Raven. Riley, ecstatic to see her favourite artiste, and her father, Cooper, elated to see his daughter’s smile. Unfortunately, the concert was a setup to catch a notorious serial killer known as the Butcher, and Riley had unknowingly come with the killer.

The king of horror twists, M. Night Shyamalan, flips the script once again, presenting the twist as the premise. With the reveal already made in the trailer, the film shifts into a whodunit from the criminal’s perspective. The gates are guarded, every exit surrounded by authorities, but the Butcher has a few tricks up his sleeve.

It’s far from the first film to put you side by side with the villain, but Trap finds ingenuity in its setting. A concert in a stadium gives Cooper multiple avenues to think through his escape, and the audience is locked in throughout the attempts. Every obstacle gives him a chance to show off his smarts, and for the most part, it’s impressive.

At a certain point, Trap becomes more unconvincing than compelling. Cooper is portrayed as a clever beast, but while some improvisations are shown in meticulous detail, others are resolved with a hand wave and slick editing. By the time the film begins to wrap up, Cooper seems more like a magician, as the story puts him into a corner from which he seemingly can’t escape, yet somehow manages to do so.

Despite his impossible tricks, one thing that remains consistent is Josh Hartnett’s performance. He convincingly plays both the sadistic killer and the humble family man, nearly winning the audience over. It’s easy to forget he’s wanted for 11 murders when he encourages his daughter to dismiss her school bullies, but the reminder surfaces with a steely gaze and a devilish smile. Hartnett portrays Cooper with calmness and quiet intensity, revealing that his demeanour is always calculated.

Trap is a suspenseful film that doesn’t rely on jump scares, instead allowing its premise to unfold naturally. While the scenarios can be over the top, it’s captivating to watch Cooper think his way out of multiple tight spots. Though it loses its thread by the end, it never stops being thrilling, making it a perfect choice for a cold, dark cinema.

Rating: Half Price

Damian Levy is a film critic and podcaster for Damian Michael Movies.

entertainment@gleanerjm.com