Cine TV Contest #127 - Trap

Hello fellow moviegoers. It's been a while since I last joined the CineTV contest and I found the latest theme to be quite interesting as I've recently watched several movies that had large events in the plot.

Now for this contest, I chose Trap which is a 2024 film about a serial killer attending a pop star concert together with his daughter. Unknown to him, the event is an entrapment set to catch him once and for all.

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I find the plot of this film to be quite different and refreshing. I had my doubts at first since M. Night Shyamalan was notorious in the past for directing bad movies. But I really enjoyed watching Trap.

Josh Hartnett's character as Cooper, the serial killer, was a surprise for me as I've always seen him portray good guy roles. What I especially liked was the transition of his facial expressions from a regular middle-age father to an unhinged criminal. I just wish he made it switch back and forth instead of defaulting to his killer look once he learned about the police setup.

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Now I thought the entirety of the movie would revolve around the concert arena. So I was surprised to see him escape midway through the movie. I did not expect that and it made me curious as to how it will all end.

Saleka also gave an impressive performance as Lady Raven. Her portrayal as an idol was believable. But her standout moment was of course when she confronted Cooper in his home.

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Another thing that impressed me is that they did not need to rely on bloody and gorey scenes to project that Cooper was a very dangerous individual. Just seeing him deliberately push a person down the stairs and setting a frying station explosion without a trace of remorse tells you that he definitely has a criminal mind.

As for the ending, I found it to be a little bit weak. But in true M. Night fashion, there's the plot twist reveal that Cooper's wife was actually the one who gave hints to the authorities about him attending the concert.

Overall, Trap is an enjoyable film for me. It's a psychological thriller with unexpected plot turns. It' s definitely a must-see if you're a fan of the genre.