Summary
The first reactions to M. Night Shyamalan’sTraphave arrived. The psychological thriller sees Cooper (Josh Hartnett) taking his daughter to the concert of a pop star, Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan), only to realize that the concert is an elaborate trap that the authorities have put in place to catch him. The authorities are pursuing Cooper in the 2024 thriller film becausehe is a serial killer known as the Butcher, but Cooper will have to outmaneuver them before it is too late.
On X, those who saw early screenings ofTraphave shared their reactions, with there being an overall positive reception to Shyamalan’s newest film. Check out their reactions below:
@Physical Mediatriumphantly declares that"Old M. Night Shyamalan is back,“comparingTrapto the director’s most critically acclaimed work.
Screen Rant’s@JoeDeckelmeiersays thatTrap “gives a masterclass in building suspense"and that"Josh Hartnett is captivating and brings so much humanity to a dark character.”
@HollywoodHandlepraisesTrapas a"fun thriller that’s a return to form for M. Night Shyamalan!“and applauds the film for"blending the tones of the Halloween movies and the Hitman games.”
@guywithamoviecameraargues thatTrapis Shyamalan’s best film"since The Village,“which was released in 2004, making this the director’s best work in two decades.
@theatomreviewappreciates"The way everything builds to the finale, the tension… truly chef’s kiss filmmaking"and describesTrapas"career-defining greatness"for Shyamalan.
@Nick_Newmanis not quite as impressed, but still thinks it is Shyalaman’s best movie sinceThe Villageand makes an analogy to the song “Somewhat Damaged” that is meant to be a compliment.
@EDouglasWWhad a more lukewarm reaction toTrap, although admitted that"Josh Hartnett gives a goofy performance that I preferred to Cage in Longlegs,“a significant achievement givenLonglegs' mostly positive reception.
Trap Could Be M. Night Shyamalan’s Best-Received Movie Since 2016
Trapmay not only become the director’s most highly regarded work since 2016 but potentially his best in decades.
As many early viewers indicated,Shyamalan’s movies have struggled to resonate with critics and general audiences in recent years. Since 2016,Split, starring James McAvoy and Anya Taylor-Joy, andKnock at the Cabin, starring Dave Bautista and Jonathan Groff, are his only films to receive fresh critical and audience scores on Rotten Tomatoes.Glass,Old, andThe Watchers, the last of which Shyamalan only produced and did not direct, all received rotten critical scores.
78%
79%
37%
66%
50%
53%
Knock at the Cabin(2023)
67%
63%
32%
52%
Based on the early reactions toTrap,it will likely be Shyamalan’s best-received film sinceSplit. Much likeTrap, which is being praised for direction and for one ofHartnett’s career-best performances, the largely positive response toSplitwas rooted in Shyamalan’s filmmaking skills and in the impressive performances of McAvoy and Taylor-Joy. Shyamalan’s daughter is another highlight ofTrapas she is a real-life singer-songwriter and actor, making her a perfect fit for the film’s central pop star.
Trap: 8 Biggest Theories About M. Night Shyamalan’s Upcoming Killer Twist
Since Trap’s trailer suggests that the movie will feature a Shyamalan-esque twist, many have come up with plausible theories about what it could be.
With some of the reactions claiming that it isShyamalan’s best filmsinceThe Village, which was released 13 years beforeSplit,Trapmay not only become the director’s most highly regarded work since 2016 but potentially his best in decades and throughout his entire career. His highest-rated work on Rotten Tomatoes is, unsurprisingly,The Sixth Sense, with an 86% critical score and 90% audience score.Trapmay not reach the heights of the iconicSixth Sense, but it still seemspoised to be one of the director’s most critically acclaimed films yet.
Source: Various (see above)
Trap
Cast
Trap is a film by writer-director M. Night Shyamalan under his Blinding Edge Pictures label. The film is part of a deal struck with Warner Bros for him to direct and produce several films under their banner.
