The Real-Life Event That Inspired M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’

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The Real-Life Event That Inspired M. Night Shyamalan’s ‘Trap’

As a seasoned gamer with a penchant for immersive storytelling, I must say that M. Night Shyamalan’s latest film, “Trap,” has piqued my interest like no other. The plot, inspired by the real-life Operation Flagship, combines the thrill of high-stakes cat-and-mouse games with the pulsating rhythm of a packed concert – a Taylor Swift Eras Tour show, no less!

As a gaming enthusiast diving into a cinematic adventure, I can’t help but appreciate M. Night Shyamalan’s knack for intricate suspense flicks. His latest masterpiece, titled “Trap,” spins a chilling yarn inspired by the iconic “Silence of the Lambs” within an unexpected setting – a jam-packed concert of the pop sensation Lady Raven, who happens to be the director’s daughter, Saleka.

Although the storyline might seem unbelievable, it’s partially inspired by real events – specifically, Operation Flagship. Director M. Night Shyamalan revealed this inspiration, stating that he found the idea of it happening in real life to be incredibly bizarre when he first heard about it as a child. “It was something that stuck with me for a long time,” Shyamalan shared with BBC News.

As a gamer, I found it clever how the authorities turned their own absurdity against them. Caught off guard, they left an opening that I couldn’t help but exploit. The idea of creating a movie within a concert setting came to mind, and I wondered why someone wouldn’t be able to escape such a place. Pondering over this, I brainstormed ways to keep them trapped – that’s how the concept for our game was born.

In December 1985, a covert operation was orchestrated by the U.S. Marshals and the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department. This operation lured over 100 wanted criminals into attending an event at the Washington Convention Center, under the pretense of winning free tickets to watch a Washington Redskins (now known as the Washington Commanders) game against the Cincinnati Bengals, and also a chance to win tickets for the 1986 Super Bowl. The event was said to be a special occasion celebrating the launch of a new D.C. sports TV network called Flagship International Sports Television Inc., coincidentally sharing the same acronym as the U.S. Marshals Service’s Fugitive Investigative Strike Team. To collect their tickets, the winners were instructed to attend a brunch a few hours before the game.

Upon their arrival, the escaping individuals were divided into small clusters and led to rooms decorated like party venues, complete with refreshments and signs proclaiming “Time to Celebrate!”. Undercover personnel, including marshals and law enforcement officers, presented themselves as event staff members. Female officers donned cheerleader uniforms, warmly greeting the guests for safety checks involving weapons. The males were also provided with balloons, grouped according to color; those identified as dangerous criminals received red balloons.

Louie McKinney, head of enforcement operations for the U.S. Marshals Service, disguised himself as a host and delivered a speech to the audience prior to their awards ceremony. As soon as McKinney mentioned having a “big surprise,” U.S. Marshals stormed into the room to apprehend the offenders, replicating this process with each group. This operation resulted in one of the most effective mass arrests of fugitives ever recorded in American history.

Shyamalan told Empire magazine in July that it was absolutely hilarious. He described the cops as if they were cheerleaders and mascots, while the criminals were all apprehended. The situation was both twisted and amusing.

Rather than setting his trap during a highly sought-after football match, akin to the Redskins games back during Operation Flagship, Shyamalan chose to establish his scene within a grand-scale Taylor Swift Tour concert. As he shared with Empire, “I directed an entire concert.” This wasn’t merely a secondary element; it held equal significance. The concert depicted isn’t a mere illusion. I appreciate the concept of cinema as multiple layers of windows. One reason to watch this movie in a theater is that you can witness a genuine concert—an experience only possible within the confines of this film.

Former federal agent Tobias Roche, involved in Operation Flagship, shared his insights with British GQ about the accuracy of M. Night Shyamalan’s film. In ‘Trap’, it’s depicted that there’s a SWAT team outside and visible police inside, interrogating concertgoers. Roche pointed out that the officers could have been more discreet. He reasoned that Operation Flagship was designed to keep a low profile and mislead the criminals, which is why it worked effectively. “We were concerned that some of [the fugitives] might recognize each other due to their shared prison or criminal history,” Roche stated.

In the film, a talkative merchant inadvertently exposes the secret plot. Roche explained to GQ that such operations require absolute discretion to succeed. He remembered an attorney representing a local company with exclusive rights to Redskins games arriving at the convention center, claiming that the initial broadcast by Flagship International Sports Television was illegal. Unbeknownst to him, this was a fake company. The attorney was pulled aside and informed about the true nature of the event; he agreed to keep it confidential. “He handled it well,” said Roche. “In the end, he watched the entire undercover operation from the control room.” Had the lawyer revealed their secret, the operation would have been terminated immediately.

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2024-08-11 04:24