Trap’s Final Twist, Explained

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As a seasoned cinephile who has watched his fair share of psychological thrillers, I must say that M. Night Shyamalan’s latest offering, “Trap”, is a rollercoaster ride that keeps you guessing till the very end. The film masterfully weaves a tale of deception, manipulation, and twisted family dynamics, with Josh Hartnett delivering an outstanding performance as the enigmatic antagonist.

Warning: Spoilers for Trap.

Summary

  • Cooper’s dark secrets are exposed when he faces off with the FBI profiler pursuing him.
  • The twisted relationship with his deceased mother plays a key role in Cooper’s eventual downfall.
  • A shocking twist involving his wife’s actions leads to Cooper’s ultimate capture in
    Trap
    .

In the cinemas now, M. Night Shyamalan’s newest thriller titled “Trap” offers a series of unexpected twists and turns. When Cooper (Josh Hartnett) takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan) concert, he notices an unusually high number of police officers present. Upon asking a merchandise employee, he learns that these officers are there to apprehend the local serial killer, the Butcher – a revelation that, considering it was hinted at in the film’s trailer, might not be too shocking for some viewers. The real intrigue lies in uncovering how Cooper will escape capture after the concert ends.

Given his savvy, it doesn’t take long for Cooper to initiate his various plans. After coyly snatching an employee’s swipe card and accessing the employee-only areas, he steals a police radio. As a result, he’s able to listen in on Dr. Josephine Grant’s (Hayley Mills) directives. An FBI profiler who’s been on his trail for a while, she proves to be a worthy adversary as Cooper does his best to leave the stadium without detection. He then weasels his way backstage with Riley before quietly threatening Lady Raven and forcing her to help him escape via her personal limo. However, she boldly interjects herself by suggesting the trio go directly to their home, a proposal that thrills Riley and prevents Cooper from remaining in complete control of the situation. Therein lies the catalyst for the film’s real twists, given the Butcher’s identity is no secret.

Cooper Continues to See His Dead Mother in Trap

In the movie, much like other serial killers, Cooper seems to struggle with complex feelings towards his mother, although this isn’t immediately apparent at the film’s start. Initially, viewers may think there’s a supernatural element to the story due to Cooper’s interactions with a woman resembling a ghost. However, as the plot unfolds, it becomes clear that this woman is none other than his mother, who subjected him to abuse and punishment upon recognizing his potential for violence at a young age. Tragically, these experiences served to fuel his darkest impulses instead of curbing them.

In his life, Cooper’s hallucination of a tormenting figure culminates in his downfall. Mistaking his mother for Dr. Grant within his own home, he is eventually apprehended. His arrest, despite numerous evasions, is surprisingly abrupt following an act where he blinds one police officer by gouging out his eyes. This scene, undoubtedly one of the most gripping in the movie, leaves viewers in a state of shock due to Cooper’s repeated escapes in confined spaces.

Cooper’s Wife Is the Reason Police Catch Him in Trap

Throughout the film, Cooper continues to maintain the upper hand in every situation he encounters. However, one of the film’s most surprising twists involves his wife and her role in his capture. Given how methodical Cooper is, it never made sense how he managed to leave behind a torn concert receipt at one of his crime scenes, which ultimately tipped off authorities to his future whereabouts. After his family discovers his true identity, Cooper flees, only to sneak back into his house and confront his wife, Rachel (Alison Pill). Subsequently, the audience learns she had suspicions about his behavior and follows him before leaving the receipt at the crime scene herself.

Since Rachel’s actions were crucial in revealing Cooper’s presence at the concert, he had intended to harm her. However, this timid woman, who often surprises viewers, uses Cooper’s own methods against him and drugs him through a slice of their daughter’s pie. In a drugged state, he can’t carry out his plan and instead stumbles around the house, encountering Dr. Grant in the guise of his mother. Now reduced to a tearful little boy, he approaches “his mother” only to be subdued by several police officers using tasers, before Dr. Grant delivers the decisive blow.

Cooper Always Has a Plan in Trap

Following Cooper’s apprehension with handcuffs and chains, the police led him from his house towards their police van. However, upon noticing one of his children’s bikes lying crooked in the front yard, he bent down to straighten it up using the kickstand. Given his OCD tendencies, the police didn’t hesitate at this action. Little did they know, Cooper seized the moment to disassemble a spoke from the bike’s wheel and conceal it within his long sleeve. In an unexpected turn of events for the film, Cooper later used the spoke to unlock his restraints, followed by a chilling laugh as the scene darkened and the movie ended with the credits rolling.

As a movie enthusiast with a keen eye for intriguing plot twists and well-developed characters, I found myself captivated by the latest film I watched, Trap. Initially, I thought it was a standalone story, but the unexpected ending hints at a possible sequel, which is quite intriguing.

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2024-08-05 04:01