M. Night Shyamalan’s Latest Thriller ‘Trap’ Fails to Impress

The buzz around M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie, ‘Trap‘, is a mix of excitement and skepticism. The film follows Cooper, played by Josh Hartnett, who is introduced as a loving dad taking his daughter, Riley, to a concert. However, there’s a twist: we quickly learn that Cooper is actually a notorious serial killer known as ‘The Butcher’.

This early reveal takes away much of the suspense usually expected from a Shyamalan film. Instead of keeping the audience on edge, viewers are thrown into a cat-and-mouse chase between Cooper and the police, who are setting up the concert as a trap to catch him.

While some might find humor in the situation, Shyamalan doesn’t seem to capitalize on it as effectively as he could. Cooper attempts to maintain a normal facade while secretly evading law enforcement. The humorous moments occur when he has awkward interactions, like with a flirty PTA mom or a supportive T-shirt vendor, Jamie, played by Jonathan Langdon.

The movie stars Saleka Shyamalan, the director’s daughter, who also lends her voice for the film’s catchy songs. Though her performance has received praise, the film itself seems to stumble through a plot riddled with holes and hard-to-believe coincidences.

Veteran actress Hayley Mills also appears as an FBI profiler but her character is portrayed as somewhat inept, which leaves viewers wondering about the film’s direction. While Hartnett’s ability to oscillate between a caring dad and a cold-blooded killer is commendable, it seems that the overall execution is lacking.

The varying tones of suspense, humor, and ultimately absurdity seem to struggle to find a cohesive balance. Many viewers might find it hard to suspend disbelief when so many plot points rely heavily on chance. Has Shyamalan lost his touch, or is this movie the start of a new direction in his career?