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It's officially a Shyamalan summer at the movies in 2024, and fans of suspense and thrillers have much to look forward to! M. Night Shyamalan's latest film, Trap, is set to debut on Max this October, promising to be a captivating addition to his impressive filmography.
This psychological thriller, which stars Josh Hartnett as a seemingly devoted father entangled in a deadly game, is bound to keep viewers on the edge of their seats as it unravels its twists and turns.
With Shyamalan's reputation for delivering jaw-dropping surprises, Trap is no exception, inviting audiences into the tension-filled world of a concert gone horribly wrong. As the story unfolds, we can expect to witness the complex layers of a character who is anything but the perfect dad.
As the excitement builds for its streaming premiere, this article will delve into everything you need to know about Trap, from its intriguing plot and cast to behind-the-scenes insights that reveal the creative minds at work. Buckle up for an exhilarating ride into the unknown, and stay tuned as we keep updating with new information.
Release date & Where to Watch
Viewers in the US can stream Trap on Max starting Friday, Oct. 25, 2024at 3:01 am ET. The film, rated PG-13 for violent scenes and brief strong language, had its premiere in New York City on July 24, 2024, before being released in theaters nationwide by Warner Bros. Pictures on Aug. 2, 2024.
Plot
In Trap, firefighter Cooper Abbott takes his daughter, Riley, to a pop concert featuring her favorite singer, Lady Raven, as a reward for good grades. What appears to be a fun father-daughter outing quickly turns sinister when Cooper notices a heavy police presence at the venue. He soon learns that the FBI is hunting a serial killer known as “The Butcher,” believed to be attending the concert. In a shocking twist, Cooper himself is revealed to be the killer, secretly monitoring his latest captive through his phone.
As Cooper attempts to evade capture, he uses various tactics, including staging an explosion to create chaos and accessing a police radio to stay ahead of the authorities. The situation intensifies when his daughter is chosen as Lady Raven's “Dreamer Girl,” providing them potential access to a less-guarded exit. However, Cooper's plan unravels as Lady Raven becomes suspicious, and Cooper's secret identity is exposed.
The tension escalates when Cooper takes Lady Raven hostage, forcing her to help him escape, but she turns the tables by livestreaming the location of his captive. Cooper's wife, Rachel, reveals she had suspected his identity all along, tipping off the authorities.
In the end, Cooper's plot to escape crumbles as he is arrested after an emotional confrontation with his family. A mid-credits scene hints that he may not be finished yet as he begins picking at his handcuffs, leaving his fate uncertain.
Cast
- Josh Harnett (The Virgin Suicides, Pearl Harbor, 40 Days and 40 Nights) as Cooper
- Ariel Donoghue and Riley
- Haley Mills as Dr. Josephine Grant
- Allison Pill as Rachel
- Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven
- Jonathan Langdon as Jamie
- Mark Bacolcol as Spencer
- Marnie McPhail as Jody's Mom/Marnie McPhail-Diamond
- Kid Cudi as The Thinker/as Scott Mescudi
- Russ as Parker Wayne/Russell ‘Russ' Vitale
- Marcia Bennett as Cooper's Mother
- Vanessa Smythe as Tour Manager
- M. Night Shyamalan as Spotter
- Lochlan Miller as Logan
- Steve Boyle as Lead SWAT Member/Steven Boyle)
- David D'Lancy Wilson as Sniper Leader
- James Gomez as Sniper Leader
- Nadine Hyatt as Sniper Leader
Official Trailer
The first trailer for Trap, released in April, began on an innocent note, showing a father taking his daughter to a pop concert. However, it quickly became apparent that something sinister was unfolding, as the father started to suspect that not everything was as it seemed.
The second trailer for Trap ramped up the intensity, diving deep into the mind of Shyamalan's chilling new villain. It offered a glimpse into the extreme, depraved measures he's willing to take in order to survive, leaving viewers on edge with the growing tension.
Is There Going to be a Trap Sequel?
M. Night Shyamalan isn't known for making sequels, with Glass being the rare exception as a follow-up to Unbreakable and Split. However, the possibility of a sequel to Trap isn't entirely off the table. The film leaves a few narrative threads that could be explored further—Cooper on the loose, Lady Raven's potential return, or even the intriguing idea of FBI profiler Mills getting her own spinoff.
Shyamalan himself hasn't ruled out revisiting these characters. He expressed a deep connection to them, saying, “I had such joy making this movie. When I finished, I missed all of these characters so much.” He even hinted that Cooper's character might be worth revisiting, comparing him to Patricia Highsmith's literary killer Tom Ripley, suggesting Cooper's worldview is “titillating and delicious.” While no sequel is confirmed, Shyamalan's comments indicate that he's open to the idea if the right story presents itself.
Production & Filming
Filming for Trap was initially set to begin in Cincinnati, Ohioin Aug. 2023, with the production slated to receive over $9 million in tax credits. However, the filming location was later shifted to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. On Sept. 18, 2023, the production was granted an interim agreement to continue filming during the SAG-AFTRA strike. Under the working title Good Grades, the shooting schedule was from Oct. 16 to Dec. 8, 2023.
One of the key locations, the “Tanaka Arena,” a pop concert venue featured in the film, was filmed inside the FirstOntario Centre in Hamilton, Ontarioa 20,000-seat arena. The production had access to the venue for two to three months as it was undergoing renovations. The Rogers Centre in Toronto was used for the arena's exterior shots.
The concert scenes in Trap were performed and filmed as though they were part of an actual event, with thousands of extras participating. Music by Saleka, who contributed to the film's soundtrack, was sent to extras ahead of time so they could sing along. The filming involved real-time projections of the performance onto the stadium's screens, with actor Josh Hartnett and co-star Maeve Donoghue shouting parts of their dialogue to match the atmosphere of a live concert.
Director Shyamalan employed several innovative techniques, including a one-way mirror attached to the camera lens for close-up conversational scenes. Filming was done on 35mm film stock, with dailies processed in Los Angeles and returned three days later for review.
Behind the Scenes
Trap is written, directed, and produced by Shyamalan, known for his signature twist-heavy storytelling. After achieving early fame with critically acclaimed films like The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, and Signs, Shyamalan faced mixed reviews for titles like The Happening, The Last Airbender, and After Earth. However, his recent success with Split has brought him back into the spotlight.
The film's creative team includes Sayombhu Mukdeeprom as cinematographer, Debbie de Villa as production designer, and Noëmi Preiswerk as editor. Composer Herdĭs Stefănsdŏttir and music supervisor Susan Jacobs are also on board, with costume design by Caroline Duncan and casting by Douglas Aibel. Producers include Ashwin Rajan, Marc Bienstock, and Shyamalan himself.
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Written by ODD Balls
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