Trap - An oppressive thriller in which M. Night Shyamalan traps the viewer in a game of dupes

Known for his work in tense, edge-of-your-seat storytelling, M. Night Shyamalan returns with Trap, a gripping psychological thriller set entirely within a crowded venue. The film, released in theaters in 2024, stars Josh Hartnett as Cooper, a father attending a concert with his daughter… who finds himself pursued by a serial killer. After hitting the big screen on August 7, 2024, Trap will be available on HBO Max starting January 7, 2026.

The story kicks off with a straightforward yet instantly tense scenario: in the middle of a crowded room, police have sealed off all the exits to apprehend a specific suspect. Cooper quickly realizes that this isn’t just an ordinary event — it’s a trap. His challenge doubles: find a way out unnoticed while maintaining the illusion of a normal evening in front of his daughter Riley.

By emphasizing observation, checkpoints, movements, and the ticking clock, the film creates a constant sense of tension, intensified by the choices Cooper must make in plain sight, surrounded by spectators, staff, and a tightening police presence. The story explores not only the rush of the escape but also the social facade of the protagonist, who is forced to uphold the appearance of a “normal” parent despite growing pressure and urgency.

The trailer for Trap

Trap

Building on his signature device-driven thrillers, Shyamalan takes a more focused perspective here, centering the story tightly around his protagonist. He adopts the viewpoint of a narrative seen from the "wrong" side. The effect aims to evoke both a sense of pursuit and a game of deception: every seemingly trivial interaction becomes a test, and every detail — from bracelets and access points to security checks, dressing rooms, and movement — turns into a crucial element of the storyline.

The film's creation is rooted in a family collaboration: singer and performer Saleka Shyamalan, who plays the pop star Lady Raven, contributes to the project's musical DNA. The production recreated an authentic show, shot like a concert, seamlessly weaving music and stage design—lighting, choreography, and crowd scenes—into the core of the suspense. Shyamalan also shot on film, aiming for an "organic" feel, and opted for a color palette inspired by Modigliani to craft an atmosphere that is both stylish and claustrophobic.

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The cast includes Josh Hartnett, recently seen in Oppenheimer, along with Ariel Donoghue and Saleka Shyamalan. Meanwhile, the director produced Les Guetteurs, the debut feature of his daughter Ishana Night Shyamalan, released around the same time. This coincidence sparked a “family-oriented” promotional campaign for summer 2024.

With its setup of a concert turned into a trap, Trap targets an audience that enjoys tense thrillers and manipulative stories, opting for a narrative that builds intensity through deliberate pacing, spatial staging, and moral ambiguity rather than traditional investigative procedures. The film fits into a recent trend of “time-constrained” thrillers, where a single setting becomes the central driving force of the story.

Our Take on Trap

With Trap, M. Night Shyamalan makes a striking return to the thriller genre with an intense and original story that immerses viewers in a suffocating, no-exit situation inside a crowded concert. Led by a compelling performance from Josh Hartnett, the film delves into human duality, the nature of evil, and the illusions of deceptive appearances. Through relentless tension and unpredictable twists, Shyamalan once again manipulates audience expectations, delivering a film that may divide but certainly leaves an impression.

The plot of Trap hinges on a Cooper, played by Josh Hartnett, is a family man attending a concert with his daughter, Riley. But behind the facade of a caring parent, he leads a double life as a serial killer. When the police launch a raid mid-event to apprehend him, he must fight to escape without arousing suspicion from his daughter or the panicked crowd.

This "real-time" concept, confined within the loud, bright atmosphere of the concert, creates a constant tension. Every passing minute brings Cooper closer to being caught and, thanks to Shyamalan’s skillful direction, viewers cannot help but feel an odd fascination with this fugitive criminal. His relationship with Riley, filled with tenderness and ambiguity, adds a disturbing emotional layer that blurs moral boundaries and keeps the audience on edge.

With Trap, M. Night Shyamalan demonstrates once again his mastery of building tension through meticulously crafted, immersive staging. The director traps viewers inside the close quarters of the crowded concert, transforming the crowd into an oppressive trap where every Cooper’s move is scrutinized, with each misstep risking his capture.

The camera adopts a near subjective perspective, closely tracking Josh Hartnett as he attempts to escape. Fluid tracking shots maneuvering amid concertgoers enhance immersion and heighten the adrenaline. Repeatedly, Shyamalan employs tight close-ups on Cooper’s face, capturing his anxiety as he struggles to keep his composure in front of his daughter. This visual contrast between the bustling crowd and his psychological isolation is brilliantly conveyed through the direction.

Visually, the film features a palette of dark tones, dominated by blue and gray hues, underscoring the cold, oppressive atmosphere. The dim lighting, punctuated by flashes of concert stage lights, plays a key role: it constructs a play of shadows and light that mirrors both the duality of the main character and the constant threat looming over him.

After years of quieter roles, Josh Hartnett delivers a remarkable performance, accurately capturing Cooper’s dual nature. His unsettling gaze and ability to oscillate between benevolent father figure and cold predator make his character both formidable and oddly sympathetic.

What stands out in Trap is this moral expectation reversal: despite being a serial killer, viewers find themselves rooting for him to succeed because his bond with Riley is so well-developed that it’s hard to see him fall in front of her. This intense father-daughter relationship, both touching and unsettling, is one of the film’s most powerful aspects.

Critics are divided, some lamenting that Shyamalan did not deliver a major twist like in his previous works, while others praise a thriller that’s both effective and immersive. Nonetheless, it’s undeniable that the film fulfills its role: it keeps you on edge, features multiple twists, and combines immersive direction with an intense acting performance.

If you’re into , stories that explore characters’ morality, and oppression-filled closed-door narratives, Trap is an excellent choice. However, those expecting a big revelation akin to The Sixth Sense or a more traditional story arc might find themselves disconcerted.