Trap is Shyamalan in pure form: entertaining, tense, and with that mix of suspense and absurdity only he can pull off. The story starts strong, placing us in an apparently ordinary setting that soon turns into a cat-and-mouse game full of suspicion and double-crosses. The tension holds steady during the first hour, and while the twists often border on the implausible, they’re part of the unspoken pact the director makes with the audience from the start.
Josh Hartnett carries much of the film’s weight with a restrained yet intense performance, conveying fear and uncertainty without losing his composure. His role, trapped in a dead-end situation, brings the right balance for the story to shift between tension and touches of dark humor without losing its pace.
Shyamalan takes full advantage of the setting and atmospheric tension, tightening the rope bit by bit until breaking it with sudden moments that jolt the viewer and force them to reconsider what they’re watching. This alternation between calm and bursts of energy keeps the story engaging and prevents it from stalling.
It’s not his most polished or ingenious work, but it’s a film that keeps its rhythm and manages to hold the intrigue until the very end. For those who enjoy his style, it’s a reminder that, with all his strengths and flaws, Shyamalan remains a filmmaker capable of surprising and turning suspense into something unmistakably his own.
Very interesting setup and premise which fails to capture my attention. It relies on me believing in the main character's charisma, charm, and wit but none of these are shown, only implied out of frame. Would definitely have improved with one fewer location and one getaway not induced by luck or stupidity. Ultimately I cant recommend this move, and not just because the acting is stiff and unpolished, but mostly because it doesn't deliver on its promises.
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