Trap 4K Review (Warner Bros.)

Trap is a 2024 suspense thriller written, produced, and directed by M. Night Shyamalan (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable, Split, Glass, The Visit, Old, Knock at the Cabin, and Signs). M. Night Shyamalan financed this production himself before it was picked up for distribution. The budget was $30,000,000 and it grossed $82,677,281 worldwide at the box office. Everyone in this major city gathers up for one live event. They are all there to attend a sold out concert from the famous pop star Lady Raven (played by: Saleka Shyamalan). Firefighter Cooper (played by: Josh Hartnett from Halloween H20, Sin City, 30 Days of Night, The Faculty, The Black Dahlia, Lucky Number Slevin, Black Hawk Down, and Pearl Harbor) takes his daughter Riley (played by: Ariel Donoghue from Wolf Like Me) to experience her favorite artist but weird things start happening around them at the packed show. The paranoid dad does his own investigation after noticing a number of bizarre situations. He discovers that the F.B.I and local law enforcement have found out that the infamous serial killer known as The Butcher is in the crowd for this tour stop. Cooper is now desperate to get his daughter away from this crowded location before she’s put in danger from this psychopath. Are they already trapped? or Will they escape this unexpected nightmare???? Trap is a very unique and different kind of psychological thriller. Director M. Night Shyamalan, the king of the twist returns to one of his favorite sub-genres with Trap. The script is loaded with surprises like you would expect from the filmmaker. Personally, I see it coming almost right away but I do appreciate it because how everything is built up here before it all comes apart. Trap is a slow burn thriller, it carefully places so many wild scenarios before it explodes. Josh Hartnett as Cooper basically acts as your eyes for the first half as he plays detective to this suspicious situation. Josh Hartnett is excellent here, it might be his greatest performance in his entire career. It’s a very fascinating and complicated role. He’s a father that will do anything to protect his daughter. Newcomer Ariel Donoghue is great as Riley. She’s just trying to live her best life until everything gets so dangerous. The chemistry between Josh Hartnett and Ariel Donoghue feels so organic and it really elevates everything in this claustrophobic environment. Saleka Shyamalan as Lady Raven really surprised me in this since she’s traditionally never been an actor before. She’s a real life singer and she definitely held her own with the rest of the actors here. Usually when a director puts himself or a family member in something, they are honestly awful but that’s not the case for Trap. The rest of the supporting cast includes Alison Pill (Scott Pilgrim vs. the World), Hayley Mills (The Parent Trap franchise), Jonathan Langdon (Run the Burbs), Mark Bacolcol (Altar Boy), Marnie McPhail (Dream Scenario), Kid Cudi (X), Vanessa Smythe (The Expanse), and Harley Ruznisky (Eli Roth’s Haunted House: Trick VR Treat). I wonder if this is set in the same universe as Unbreakable and Split since it’s in the same location. I will say that Trap would have been so much better if it was Rated R because it’s really tame and there’s not much violence in this. Trap is more psychological than physical. The Butcher is a villain with so much potential. I would love to see a sequel or prequel that just focuses on that character at some point. The final act for Trap is nothing but tension, thrills, and suspense. That nice set up comes to life when this vicious serial killer is tested. I enjoyed the concert moments but Trap really picks up after it’s over. I wish more of Trap was like that to be honest but it’s still a quality original take on the serial killer sub-genre. RECOMMENDED!!!! Let’s discuss this high definition presentation and special features from Warner Bros Pictures! This 2160p (1.85:1) transfer with Dolby Vision and HDR10 looks stunning in 4K. It’s one of the visually best of the year so far. M. Night Shyamalan always delivers when it comes to that department. It has attention grabbing locations and stylish cinematography. It has a few different audio options which includes English: Dolby Atmos, English: Dolby TrueHD 7.1, French: Dolby Digital 5.1, and Spanish: Dolby Digital 5.1 tracks on the UHD. Trap sounds phenomenal on home video but that’s no surprise because most of it takes place at a concert. All of the dialogue is crisp, the tension is elevated, and the music has a killer boost to it. It has English, Latin Spanish, Canadian French, and Parisian French subtitles. It has the little over 4 minute “Setting the Trap: A New M. Night Shayamalan Experience”. It has interviews with the cast and crew. They chat about the concept. They bring up the music and it’s atmosphere. They go over some of the characters. It has some behind the scenes footage here. It has the little over 5 minute “Saleka as Lady Raven”. It has interviews with the cast and crew. They chat about being inspired by Purple Rain. They talk about Saleka wrote and recorded this album before doing the film. They filmed the concert naturally, it was all real. It has almost 7 minutes of “Deleted Scenes” which includes Cooper Gets Stopped by SWAT, Riley Shows Lady Raven Her Room, and Cooper Slips Away. It has the little over 3 minute “Extended Concert Scene: Where Did She Go”. It comes with a slipcover and a digital code. It’s available everywhere right now, CHECK IT OUT!!!!