IR Film Review: TRAP [Warner Bros]

The essence of an M. Night Shyamalan film rests many times where the filmmaker is in his own head and where that path might take him. With ”Trap,” there is a weird essence of dual personality not unlike his lead character Cooper (played by Josh Hartnett) who begins the movie taking his daughter to a concert. The irony is the way it is built especially Night uses his own real-life daughter who is an aspirng pop star as a pop star on screen. Using his film as a vehicle to promote her seems overtly nepo in many ways and takes one out of the film for the first half at first glance. In essence though he is also making fun of that actual concept to throw in a twist seemingly daring the audience to condemn Cooper before they understand or perceive what his psychosis might be or what he actually might be doing.

However once the latter part of the film kicks in especially with the addition of Alison Pill, it becomes a whole other play of particulars. Hartnett is quite engaging though towards one point he starts to overplay his hand. However that might be at Shaymalan’s request because Harnett, as an actor, is usually controlled. This just might be playig with form. Same with Pill who is also moving in a way against type considering her recent roles. Add to the aspect Hayley Mills, the former child star as a 70-year-old investigator tracking Cooper. The film begins to take on a weird diatribe of identity. By the end it transforms but it is not quite clear what it is tranforming to. It is unique but like most of Night’s films just not quite transcendent. But that said, he always tries something interesting. B

By Tim Wassberg