Trap

One thing's for sure, I [mostly] always have some degree of intrigue into whatever M. Night Shyamalan is putting together. He seems to have left the "awful" stage of his career behind him and has since entered into a high-concept, mediocre-execution stage. His scores have never entered the "great" 8+ realm, but previous films like Knock at the Cabin, Old, Split, The Visit, and even Glass have all been on the cusp of "good" or solidly in that space. They're what I would deem a one-time view where my desire to watch any of them again is minimal, but for the most part I enjoyed their mystery, set-up, and overall delivery. 

Trap, Shyamalan's newest thriller starring Josh Hartnett, is proving to be divisive and it's easy to see why. It gets held back by some of Shyamalan's worst tendencies, some may not appreciate the payoff and direction it takes, and I've even seen some claiming it's basically just a manipulative star vehicle for his daughter, Saleka who stars as pop-star Lady Raven.

All mildly fair points (though that latter is misguided as Saleka is perfectly fine), but despite all of that, Trap may be my favorite Shaymalan film out of the ones I have listed. It's not a perfect film by any means, but it effectively kept me on my toes nearly the entire time. In case you're unfamiliar with the concept, it's a completely preposterous, but immediately intriguing one: a famous pop star is having a concert and the FBI has a high degree of confidence that a serial killer known as The Butcher will be in attendance. Thus, they set a trap to catch him. One of the bigger disappointments I have in Trap is that the hand is revealed in the trailers and quickly into the film: Josh Hartnett's Cooper is the serial killer. It would have taken some reorganization up to a certain point, but I can't help but think how fantastic this twist would have been if we found it out mid-film? I'm not holding that against the film too much as that would make it a bit of a different movie for the first 30-45 minutes.

Despite that, I really enjoyed Trap, probably more so than my final score would indicate. For starters, Hartnett is great in this, able to navigate a often-awkward script with a hint of under-the-surface craziness. His serial killer side is just as odd as his father side, making for a character you know is afflicted with some deep seeded issues. He balances that line effectively, coming across as a good father to his daughter, Riley, while also displaying a dark side when needed. The concept remains interesting the entire time, elevated by effective editing and an original score. Lastly - NO SPOILERS - the final third I found to be a refreshing change of pace. Originally, I was worried the wind was about to be sucked out of the film's metaphorical sails, but the ending and final push worked for me, potentially even being the high part of the whole thing. 

Now, because this is Shyamalan, there are issues. The script can be horrendously awkward at times, with dialogue feeing stilted and unnatural. It's never enough to ruin the film - and sometimes gets some laughs - but I'm sometimes surprised Shyamalan doesn't get help with the writing at this point. Similarly, while much of his direction is thoughtful and effective in this thriller, I still cannot...for the life of me...get over his "signature" ultra-close-ups on characters faces. It's distracting and prevalent in Trap. I mean, for f**k's sake, we're so close to Hartnett's face I can see his dental work! There's also some things with the screenplay and plot that feel like Hartnett's Cooper "trips" into, making his life easier than it should be. 

It has been interesting to be on the "late" side of reviews for Trap because of how divisive it has been among critics and fans. I've seen scores of nearly every type, with mine in what I would deem "good" territory. That makes Trap a hard-to-recommend film knowing that it's landing all over the spectrum, though in the spirit of supporting Hartnett's career comeback, I would love for more people to see this. Just be warned, it's still Shyamalan, after all. For better or for worse. 

Rapid Rath's Review Score | 7/10