‘Trap’ (2024) Review – It’s Josh Hartnett’s World, We’re Just Living In It

Yes, you can say a lot about M. Night Shyamalan. His movies can be classics (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Signs), campy and diabolically good (The Visit, Split, Knock at the Cabin), or weirdly ahead of their time considering the pandemic (The Happening, The Village). Yet, it’s only when the twist maestro veers too far from his style (The Last Airbender, After Earth) that you ever feel like you were not immersed in a singular M. Night Shyamalan experience.

That brings us to Trap, where the virtuoso of the signature plot shift brings the audience on a ride that is clever, methodical in mood and pace and brings out a performance in Josh Hartnett that makes us feel this is his world, and we are just living in it. Charming, creepy, and, at times, frighteningly real, we are currently in the middle of the resurgence of the Josh Hartnett renaissance in a franchise-making role, with prequels and sequels for years to come.

Yes, Trap and Josh Hartnett are devilishly clever in the year’s most unexpected and welcomed thriller.

You don’t want to know too much about the plot of Trap. I made it a point to avoid spoilers and that means all trailers for any M. Night cinematic movie. Now, if you saw the trailer, you know the plot. Whereas I didn’t, which sets up a spine-tingling, hair-raising, and armrest-grabbing first act that’s smart and surprising. It’s pure M. Night, one of the best openers of his career, pulling you in and not letting go.

So, if you want to go in fresh, avoid these next two paragraphs and skip ahead.

Hartnett plays Cooper Adams, the ultimate “Dad Girl Hero,” taking his daughter, Riley (Ariel Donoghue), to a concert to see the current pop star sensation Lady Raven (the uber-talented daughter of M. Night, Saleka Shyamalan). Hartnett’s Cooper is adorably dorky, full of desperate dad jokes. Trying so hard to be hip, he appears to be acting weird around his young teenage daughter.

However, Cooper notices strange and unexplainable occurrences around the arena from their floor seats. Police officers seem to be identifying middle-aged adult males—all of them fathers—and dragging them from their seats. SWAT officers begin lining up around the exits. We watch as new cameras go up all over the arena in real-time. An FBI profiler (the legendary Hayley Mills) commands the scene.

What is going on here? Who are the Johnny Law Blue Bloods after? And why does the Wells Fargo Center look like it’s under martial law?

That’s half the fun of Trap’s setup, which is probably one of the filmmaker’s most meticulous examples of subtlety and restraint. You are pulled in by Hartnett’s wickedly charming performance, which alternates between a dorky, awkward dad smile and one that seems as dangerous as a switchblade. It’s the charisma, intelligence, ability to mimic empathy, and adaptability that allow the viewer to hang their hat on Hartnett’s performance for a suspenseful ride.

You will undoubtedly have some negative quips said about M. Night Shyamalan’s script. Yes, there is a sense of disbelief at some of the things that transpire. Especially in an age dominated by advanced technology. And there are scenes where the younger Shyamalan does struggle. However, M. Night’s script is brave enough to take real chances.

The respected filmmaker writes himself into a corner in the second act with a turn that most would shy away from attempting. Then, just when you think the movie is about to well, get “trapped,” the script manages to write the characters out of their predicament once more. Not all of the choices are smart. In fact, not all of them work as well as they could. Yet, you simply cannot call Trap anything but the usual thriller.

In fact, this is an enthralling piece of popcorn entertainment that continues to outdo itself in unexpected ways. My suggestion would be to turn your brain off and allow yourself to experience THIS filmmaker’s intent—one of gripping suspense, a tense and taut atmosphere, and unpredictable (and sometimes absurd) twists. Because, for better or worse, Trap is just so much damn fun, and that’s what a good summer movie is all about.

Trap is currently playing exclusively in theaters courtesy of Warner Bros. Discovery.