In a world where thrillers often tread familiar paths, M. Night Shyamalan pushes the envelope with ‘Trap’. Blending diegetic music and dark suspense, this film was originally pitched as ‘What if The Silence Of The Lambs happened at a Taylor Swift concert?‘ – a fusion that could only come from Shyamalan’s unique vision.

At the heart of ‘Trap’ is a father and daughter, played by Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue, navigating a seemingly innocuous pop concert gone sinister. They soon find themselves at the center of a dark and sinister event, designed to trap a serial killer known as ‘The Butcher’. The twist? Hartnett’s character is the killer himself.

Josh Hartnett’s Role Re-evaluated

Though Shyamalan has featured villain protagonists before, ‘Trap’ marks his first time placing a wanted serial killer in the role typically reserved for an everyman hero, akin to those in ‘Die Hard’. In recent years, Hartnett has been crafting a comeback arc, including roles in ‘Oppenheimer’ and ‘Black Mirror’. His portrayal in Shyamalan’s latest venture will undeniably add to this trajectory.

Musing on his creative process for ‘Trap’, Shyamalan shared, The idea was, how can we do diegetic music in a thriller that’s not fluff.

A Pop Sensation Turned Snare

The film incorporates the pop star Lady Raven, portrayed by Saleka Shyamalan, as an integral part of the plot’s crossover between thriller and pop culture spectacle. The tension mounts as Hartnett’s character realizes that the cops orchestrated the entire concert to catch ‘The Butcher’. In Shyamalan’s words, It was hilarious… these guys were dancing as they came in. And they were all caught. It was so twisted and funny.

An Unexpected Pitch Location

Interestingly, Shyamalan pitched his entire concept at a Taylor Swift concert. This unusual move added an authentic ambiance to his brainstorming session. Reflecting on this, he remarked how it added depth to his understanding of intertwining music and narrative suspense.

The Butcher Unveil

The reveal of Hartnett’s character as forms the climax of the storyline. It’s captivating witnessing how this film brings a fresh twist on traditional thriller tropes while diving into areas seldom explored before in mainstream cinema.

A Nod to Thriller Classics

The inspiration behind ‘Trap’‘s antagonist certainly has roots deep within the classic thrillers like ‘Silence of the Lambs’. Similar yet distinct, it promises an engaging experience for audiences old and new alike.