What if a sold-out concert was used as a trap to catch a brutal serial killer? The plot of M. Night Shyamalan’s newest movie intrigued audiences nationwide, especially while the world is still riding high off Taylor Swift’s most recent global tour. Starring Josh Hartnett as the prey in this cat-and-mouse game, the movie showcases the actor’s chilling demeanor as he tries to escape while keeping his family out of his second, more deadly life. He is supported by Saleka, Ariel Donoghue, Hayley Mills, Allison Pill, and Jonathan Langdon. 

After his most recent film, Old, had a dismal run in theaters, Trap was supposed to be the film that turned it all around. And it was, but it didn’t have as big of an impact as one might think. While the film made a profit of $15 million on the first weekend off a budget of $30 million, the plot of the movie started to stagnate as the cat-and-mouse game got progressively more twisted. 

Thriller Movie or Concert Film?

With only an hour and forty-five-minute runtime, the movie’s pacing is stellar at first, with the opening half seeming to fly by as the tension increases with Cooper’s desperation to escape the concert. Still, the second half of the movie seems to drag by slower. The twists and turns started to become more predictable as the movie tried to wrap itself up, which can turn the viewing experience from one of anticipation to one of boredom.

Moreover, supporting actress Saleka is not only a singer-songwriter in real life but also M. Night Shyamalan’s daughter. She plays Lady Raven, the pop star whose concert is used as a trap for Cooper. As mentioned above, the first half of the movie takes place at the concert, where Saleka is performing original songs for the film. While this was a nice element and sweet gesture for Shyamalan to do for his daughter, the actual concert parts seemed to cut and even mute the suspense at times. 

Saleka has undeniable talent, but a suspense movie with seemingly high stakes doesn’t feel like the best place to showcase it. There was even a cameo by famous singer and rapper Kid Cudi as The Thinker, another singer in the film, and Lady Raven preforms a song with him onstage. While that was a fun little easter egg for those familiar with Kid Cudi, it still feels out of place, given the context of the movie. 

Josh Hartnett’s Big Break (Again)

Even if the movie’s plot fell off towards the end, Josh Hartnett’s acting as Cooper stayed consistent. Playing a chilling serial killer is no easy feat, especially considering the double life Cooper lives. Cooper is a local fireman with a loving family and cares deeply for his children, especially his daughter. However, there’s an insatiable thirst to kill inside of him that he’s kept quenched for years. There’s a method to Cooper’s madness, and Hartnett seems to have effectively cracked the code to portray that to audiences nationwide.