As a die-hard fan of M. Night Shyamalan’s work, I must say that “Trap” has proven to be a captivating and unexpected addition to his oeuvre. This film, unlike some of his previous works, does not rely on the grand, mind-bending twists we’ve come to expect from him, but instead employs smaller, more subtle misdirects that keep us guessing until the very end.
Contains spoilers for “Trap”
Over the last nearly three decades, filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has gained recognition for his unexpected plot twists in thriller movies. While some may be more skillfully executed than others, they’re almost always present. In his latest production titled “Trap,” Josh Harnett portrays Cooper, a regular suburban father who takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a large stadium concert featuring her favorite pop star, Lady Raven (played by Shyamalan’s daughter, Saleka). So far, the scenario seems ordinary and is even loosely based on real events. However, we are presented with two surprising revelations in quick succession: Cooper is secretly a notorious serial killer known as The Butcher due to his penchant for dismembering victims, and the FBI is aware of The Butcher’s presence at the concert and is planning a sting operation to apprehend him. With the police on the lookout and Riley oblivious, Cooper must find a way to escape the concert without being caught or putting his daughter in danger.
You might wonder where the unexpected twist lies in this movie? Although M. Night Shyamalan may not deliver his signature grand plot twists as we know them, trust me, there’s a delightful dose of Shyamalan-esque surprises hidden within. After all, it’s in his nature to keep us guessing!
The anti-twist twist
As I sat down to watch “Trap,” it felt like M. Night Shyamalan had already let his twist cat out of the bag at the very beginning of the movie. Unlike some of his other films, where suspense was built by keeping viewers guessing until the end, Cooper’s true identity as The Butcher was revealed right away in this one. This left me thinking that I was in for a more straightforward thriller, with the primary drama coming from watching Cooper outwit the police and stay hidden from their scrutiny. By the climax of the concert, it appeared that he had successfully pulled off his escape plan, using Lady Raven’s limo to make a getaway after forcing her to help him by threatening the life of the victim he’d stashed away in a basement somewhere.
But things go a little wonky when Lady Raven invites herself over to Cooper and Riley’s suburban home, framing it as a treat for a lucky fan. There, he has less control over the situation — with his wife and children present, the thin veil between his two very distinct identities as doting father and serial killer threatens to dissolve entirely. Lady Raven manages to get a hold of his phone and barricade herself in the bathroom, communicating with both the victim to get information on his location and crowdsourcing detective work live on social media with her legions of devoted fans. Raven saves the day, and with the police on the way, he’s been outed as the Butcher once and for all. But is there more to the story?
Who called in the tip to the FBI?
In the movie, a minor detail is subtly introduced at the beginning which might be missed due to our attention being drawn towards Cooper’s performances at the concert. The character Jamie (Jonathan Langdon) casually mentions to Cooper about an FBI sting operation. He also hints that the FBI had reasons to believe The Butcher would appear that very night. Given Cooper’s thoroughness, it seems unlikely he would carelessly leave such incriminating evidence behind. Thus, the question arises: How did the FBI know he was going to be there? Who provided the tip-off to the authorities?
Upon arriving home from the concert accompanied by Lady Raven and their daughter, Cooper encounters his loving spouse Rachel (Allison Pill). Their family appears content and deeply devoted. However, upon returning to their residence following an escape from the police, Cooper is confronted by Rachel who discloses a secret he had been gradually piecing together – she had been working with the FBI to set a trap for him.
How is the Butcher caught?
Initially, Rachel assumed his growing suspicious actions were due to a secret affair he was trying to conceal hastily. However, her suspicions deepened when she detected an unusual odor of potent cleaning chemicals on his garments. This led her to suspect something much more alarming. She felt compelled to contact the police and even left a part of her concert ticket stub at one of his recent crime scenes, hoping it would guide the FBI to the event. Upon his confession, she now knows he intends to harm her, but requests they share one last slice of Riley’s celebration pie together. He shows anger, yet agrees — only after consuming several bites does he realize that she had laced it with the same sedative used on Cooper’s victims.
In this scenario, the man appears dazed enough for the FBI to apprehend him unexpectedly. However, it’s questionable whether he’s as disoriented as he appears. As they lead him out of his house and down the driveway, he pauses to tidy up his child’s bicycle, seemingly moved by nostalgia. Yet, this action was more than just a sentimental gesture – he was actually dismantling a wheel, specifically a spoke, which enabled him to unlock his handcuffs in the back of the police vehicle. This clever move left him with a private sense of victory.
M. Night Shyamalan’s take on the twist
Instead of the usual Shyamalan surprise ending we’re accustomed to, this film uses subtle deceptions skillfully throughout its narrative. These clever misdirections keep audiences off-balance. For instance, Lady Raven’s unexpected deviation from the script, her suspicion of Cooper’s criminal activities leading to police involvement, and the climactic twist suggesting that Cooper may escape custody all contribute to the suspenseful experience offered by “Trap.”
M. Night Shyamalan discussed with Slashfilm his fascination for the unique approach taken in “Trap,” as it stands out from many of his past films. A key aspect of this is the portrayal of the serial killer as a somewhat sympathetic character, which adds an unexpected twist to the narrative. As Shyamalan puts it, “The film is inviting you to view things from an unusual perspective… what’s happening unconsciously is that you find yourself identifying with him as you uncover the storyline of the movie.” The intriguing twist, therefore, isn’t about the revelation that he’s trapped or a killer, but rather that you, the audience, are the killer in disguise.
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2024-08-04 19:30