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The well known film maker M. Night Shyamalan who has centered some of his work on supernatural themes and plot twist is soon to release his next project, he has produce and direct many great movies and TV Series, my favorite from him been Servants (2019). This new film, Trap (2024) develops during a pop concert that serve as a Trap to caught a serial killer, this movie will have the sort of tense feeling that people have come to associate with Shyamalan. This movie features Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a father who takes his teenage daughter Riley, played by Ariel Donoghue, to watch a rising pop star Lady Raven played by Saleka Shyamalan. Cooper goes for a casual concert only to realize that the show is actually a trap set by the police to capture a dangerous murderer called The Butcher Cooper is the one whom the police are chasing, as revealed in the trailer, making him the main character a villain. The entire situation becomes a kind of cat and mouse game because I think the police knows The Butcher will be at the concert but they have not properly identify him. - IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26753003/ - Platform: Theaters - Release: August 2, 2024

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The Plot and Setting

Cooper and Riley are excited to attend the Lady Raven concert at the start of the movie, this gives me the impression he is way too confident that he expose himself to public events, it becomes a charged up event to watch the thousands of fans who have come to watch the young singer but this however quickly changes when Cooper gets up to go use the bathroom having the movie take a left turn when it becomes suspicious to him for all the police and security cameras been in the surroundings. Cooper learns that the whole concert is in fact a police trap operation involving capturing of a criminal known as "The Butcher", the concert area is surrounded by the police and all the exits are closed and any person leaving the area will be subjected to some what questioning I guess since they don't exactly know who the guy is. This generates an instant conflict because Cooper is now aware that he is in a dangerous position, to make things worst he went there willingly and is on a though situation with his daugther invovlve. It is interesting how on this movie the producer expose the killer right away, its not a guessing game of who is the killer anymore rather a type of escape room situation where the villain has to come up with ideas and tricks one after the other, like someone playing a game and going through levels so he can get out of there potentially with his daughter.

Characters and Cast

Cooper (Josh Hartnett)

Cooper portrayed by Josh Hartnett is a father who has the worst secret that any father would ever have. Hartnett’s recent stage performance in Oppenheimer and other recent television show Black Mirror has refreshed the audience memories on his acting ability, making his choice for such a grey area character quite interesting.

Riley (Ariel Donoghue)

Ariel Donoghue is cast as Riley, a teenager and Cooper’s daughter, some of her previous work includes Wolf Like Me and Blueback. Since the main theme of the thriller is likely to be the father daughter relationship, the incorporation of this aspect will create an emotional plot in the movie, having Cooper to decide what to do with his daughter, probably leaving her behind.

Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan)

Saleka Shyamalan the director’s daughter is also in the movie as Lady Raven, the pop star featured in the concert. She has also provided 14 songs in the film, I think its a nice opportunity she have, most of the audience when they know this might say its because of her father connections but a great opportunity none the less for young talent to show her skills as singer and probably acting too, all depends on her part on the movie.

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Movie Theme

Identity, Deception and Family Loyalty

The idea of a serial killer blending with the society during a popular event such as a concert challenges the theme of identity, I'm sure this happens every day how we might go to a restaurant or a mall and having a high profile criminal next to us without even known about it, but only them and some times not even the person with them really know whats going on deceiving everyone in the room. The main plot of father and daughter in the story gives a good opportunity to develop themes such as trust, protection and ethical dilemmas of loyalty to family members, which makes me think Cooper eventually leaves her daughter behind, not that its a fact but its my conscience with a spark of malice. The story will be a challenge to a criminal mind and shows to what extent would a parent defend his or her child, especially when Cooper himself puts her child in danger every day with all the killing he is carrying with him.

Production and Direction

Shyamalan’s process for Trap (2024) in fact seem to be related to Servant (2019) and he worked to present a narrative from the villain’s point of view, which resulted in the dark tones reminiscent of Servant (2019), right there in the face of the audience the villain shows up. Shooting a thriller that took place during the concert had its own difficulties, Shyamalan had to in effect, stage a concert, which was another challenge all together to the whole shooting process, this would make the movie more realistic. Hamilton, Ontario’s FirstOntario Centre was used to shoot the scenes and was painted and renamed as Tanaka Arena for the movie. As mention the songs use on the movie are originally composed by Saleka Shyamalan and the film’s score is performed by Lady Raven and so music is instrumental in setting the mood of the film.

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Audience Expectations and Reactions

Trap (2024) trailer has received many views, more than 23 million and its been reported that many of the comments are positive since the trailer has that show ambient, powerful, setting up the concept of the movie but without revealing the entire story, all I would expect are stunts and how Cooper will be sleek enough to go through all the police. I would guess the audience is likely to wonder whether there are more plot twists to the movie than mere discovery of Cooper as the murderer. That fact that the film has been rated PG-13 means that Shyamalan wants to have his cake and eat it, to attract a large audience and at the same time thrill them with suspense, something at which he has been proven to be very good at.

With Shyamalan back to the thriller theme, the novelty of a concert screening and the fact that the movie’s twist is exposed from the start, the audience has been titillated and intrigued as usual. 2024 has been a great year for psychological drama, this is setup to be one of them with the hook right from the start just waiting for all the action and suspense to develop. Whether it will live up to the high expectations set by Shyamalan's earlier works remains to be seen, but one thing is certain as we the audience will be able to watch a movie that is different from the usual ones being produced and will leave them puzzled right till the end. Of course everyone will be trying to guess and figure out whats going to happen next based on assumption, I hope the movie is tricky enough that it does not become too predictable.

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