Trap is the latest film from M. Night Shyamalan starring Josh Hartnett. In the film we follow Cooper (Hartnett) who is the Butcher, a notorious serial killer who has fallen into a trap. Cooper takes his daughter (Ariel Donoghue) to a Lady Raven (Saleka Shyamalan) concert that has been set up to catch the Butcher, something Cooper was not aware of. We witness as Cooper does whatever it takes to escape and keep his secret.

I want to start off by saying that I am a huge M. Night fan and consider this to be his most commercial movie since The Sixth Sense. M. Night Shyamalan is known for his creative turns in his stories as well as distinct dialogue. Trap is no different and everything you know about Shyamalan is done perfectly in what I consider one of his best.

Hartnett plays the titular role of The Butcher/Cooper who is living a double life. He is putting on two different personas throughout the film as the loving father and the cold calculated murderer. I was really amazed by the way Josh was able to go back and forth between each effortlessly. It’s a performance that feels just as layered as James McAvoy in Split with a slight twist.

M. Night crafts some wicked camera work as well through the concert venue that feels like its own character as well. Trap for the most part is showcasing a concert and that adds another layer to the film. Saleka Shyamalan has some great music that elevates some of the scenes in Trap that already feel tense. We also get the classics from M. Night like a split diopter and some unforgettable side characters. One of my favorites being Jamie (Jonathan Langdon) who is the concert venue worker who tells Cooper the concert is a trap. We even get some sneaky cameos and one in particular I almost stood up to clap for.

I had a ton of fun following Cooper in an almost looney tunes hijinks escape he plans throughout. Trap is a movie that’s kind of hard to even talk about without spoiling anything from it. The film is so different from what was presented in the trailers in the best way possible. I will say the third act does get clunky and clumsy once a key scene happens. Trap, however, is able to bring it together in its final 10 minutes for such an intense finale.

Overall, I think Trap is one of M. Night Shyamalan’s best works to date. It had a ton of comedy and thrills throughout its run time. A stellar performance from Josh Hartnett and the rest of the ensemble pulls through. If you’re looking for a fun time at the movies and seeing Josh Hartnett absolutely crush a role then this one is for you.