The new concert horror Trap by M. Night Shyamalan has divided audiences and critics with its unusual storyline, revolving around a serial killer on the loose inside the venue of a pop concert.
Trap: The Plot
Trap explores the concert experience of firefighter Cooper Adams (Josh Hartnett) and his young daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue), a super-fan of an upcoming artist Lady Raven (Saleka). Unlike most pop concerts, the venue has tight-knit security at every corner with the FBI patrolling the stadium hoping to catch a deadly killer, known as ‘The Butcher’.
Cooper Adams befriends stadium staff and police officers to listen in on the briefings from FBI profiler Dr Josephine Grant. The concert soon becomes a deadly chase between Cooper and the FBI, with the Butcher staying one step ahead on his deadly rampage.
M Night Shyamalan
Trap was written, directed and produced by M. Night Shyamalan. The experienced director has produced many popular horror films and psychological thrillers such as Split (2016), Old (2021) and, most recently, The Watchers (2024). Shyamalan is recognisable for his unique style of film, with subversive narratives and famous plot twists. Trap can be seen to replicate the successful formula embedded in Shyamalan’s previous films. As noted by film critic Alex Trent:
“One reason that Shyamalan can continue to maintain his audience is because of the originality of his movies. Even those who quickly grew tired of the twists in his movies will admit that they often couldn’t predict what the twist was going to be or when the twist was going to occur.”
Is The Plot of Trap Too Ambitious?
Although the original concept of a concert-based horror proved to be a marketing ploy for Trap, the plot soon became slightly confusing for audiences. The concert heavily showcased the fictional singer Lady Raven, played by Shyamalan’s own daughter Saleka Shyamalan. The heavy focus on Shyamalan’s daughter shrouded the film and took away from the suspense of the supposed horror film.
The film loses its pace as the concert ends and the single-location trap for the Butcher is compromised. As the film begins to move location and showcase the cat-and-mouse chase between Lady Raven, the Butcher and the FBI, the promising concept and intrigue surrounding the concert venue looses meaning. Critics have expressed dissapointment with the structure of the film.
“What should ensue is an exercise in clammy, clock-ticking suspense, but Trap is a film that is maddeningly devoid of tension, a fun enough pitch that hasn’t been developed enough to work as an entire movie.”
Nepotism in Trap
One major critique of Trap is the heavy promotion of Shyamalan’s own daughter. Although created as a fictional character under the name ‘Lady Raven’, Saleka Shyamalan dominated a third of the film’s screen time showcasing her singing abilities. As a real-life R&B artist, the film’s focus on Lady Raven had nepotism undertones as a bid to boost Saleka’s music career.
Audience Response and Ratings
Despite grossing $35.2 million at the US box office, Trap is Shyamalan’s lowest-grossing film at the global box office. Earning only a 55% critics score on Rotten Tomatoes, opinions on the new release are majorly divided.
Trap and the Modern Horror Genre
Despite the films mixed reviews, M. Night Shyamalan capitalised on the need for innovative storylines within the horror genre. With the traditional slasher formula growing old amongst horror audiences, the emphasis on innovative and unique narratives is becoming integral to the modern horror genre.
Recent horror releases such as Long Legs (2024), Late Night With the Devil (2024) and Trap itself, are examples of storylines which subvert audiences’ expectations and elevate the horror genre beyond the conventional slasher film.
However, Trap‘s downfall seems to be in its overarching need to be innovative. As the first horror film ever set at a concert, the film was built and marketed upon this unique concept. Despite the fact, the concert setting primarily showcased Shyamalan’s daughter and did not facilitate the wider plot of capturing the Butcher.
Although the film has some plot holes and looses momentum throughout, Trap is an entertaining and enjoyable watch with a unique plot. The film is currently showing in cinemas globally and making a mark at the box office.
