M. Night Shyamalan's new thriller, Trap, was revealed to the public through two trailers on April 18 and 19, 2024. The film stars Josh Hartnett as a father who attends a pop concert with his daughter (Ariel Donoghue), only to find himself at the center of a dark and sinister event. Federal agents are present at the concert, searching for a serial killer known as 'The Butcher.' Hartnett's character is later revealed to be this very killer in one of the trailers. Trap marks Shyamalan's first movie with Warner Bros since his move from Universal in August 2023.
According to the official logline, Trap follows a father and teen daughter who attend a pop concert where they realize they're at the center of a dark and sinister event. The trailer shows Hartnett's character taking his daughter to the concert of pop star Lady Raven (played by Shyamalan's daughter Saleka), but when he goes to the bathroom, he notices that there are federal agents present and that something is amiss. When he returns to his seat, Lady Raven reveals that she knows who he is and calls him 'The Butcher.' Hartnett's character then takes his daughter and tries to escape the concert venue.
Both trailers received positive feedback from critics, with many praising Shyamalan's signature twists and Hartnett's performance. Trap hits theaters on Aug. 9, 2024.
The idea for Trap was developed by Shyamalan and his daughter Saleka over several years. They frequently discussed how to combine their love of music and thrillers into one movie, and Trap finally helped them hit on just the right idea. The film also stars Hayley Mills, Marnie McPhail, and Ishana Night Shyamalan.
Shyamalan has a history of working outside of Hollywood conventions and looking for actors who are willing to give themselves over completely to the movie. He noted that Hartnett was the right actor at the right time in his life when they met, and he had a wonderful time working with him. Hartnett himself expressed that he enjoyed the experience, stating that Shyamalan's approach allowed him to empathize and find beautiful electricity.
Trap is just one of several projects Shyamalan has in the works. He recently signed a multi-year first-look directing and producing agreement with Warner Bros Pictures Group, which includes films such as Knock at the Cabin, Neon's Cuckoo, Amazon MGM's The Fire Inside, Sony's It Ends With Us, and Lionsgate's long-awaited adaptation of the video game Borderlands. Shyamalan also produced Ishana Night Shyamalan's debut feature, The Watchers.
Despite the controversy surrounding some of his previous works, Shyamalan remains a respected figure in the film industry and continues to push boundaries with his unique storytelling style.
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