Warner Bros. has unveiled the trailer for M. Night Shyamalan’s latest enigmatic thriller, “Trap,” featuring Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, and Marnie McPhail. The film revolves around a father and his teenage daughter who find themselves embroiled in a sinister plot while attending a pop concert. As per the official synopsis, they realize they are at the heart of a dark and foreboding event. The first glimpse of the movie was presented at this year’s CinemaCon in Las Vegas.
In the trailer, Hartnett’s character and his daughter, Jody, are caught up in the concert of pop sensation Lady Raven. When Hartnett leaves for the restroom, he stumbles upon a significant police presence and discovers they are on the hunt for a serial killer. The shocking revelation occurs when it becomes apparent that Hartnett’s character is the very killer they seek, evidenced by a chilling scene on his phone showing a captive victim. The trailer concludes with Hartnett’s character displaying an eerie, unsettling laughter.
Alongside its debut at CinemaCon, the “Trap” trailer received a preview at an event titled “The Summer of Shyamalan” in Los Angeles this week. At this gathering, the filmmaker not only discussed “Trap” but also shed light on “The Watchers,” a project he produced.
“The Watchers” is the brainchild of his daughter, Ishana Night Shyamalan, who serves as both writer and director. Notably, the pop star character in “Trap” is portrayed by another of the director’s daughters, Saleka, who not only acts but also contributes as a singer-songwriter, having penned several songs for the film.
Shyamalan shared that a significant allure of crafting “Trap” lay in the concept of narrating the tale “from the perspective of an unexpected individual” — namely, Hartnett’s character, the killer. He expressed that this approach increasingly gravitated towards a darkly humorous tone akin to his previous works like “Servant,” “The Visit,” and “Split.”
Shyamalan expressed his growing fondness for this tone, emphasizing the aim to ensure it provides an enjoyable experience for all viewers. He remarked on the curious amalgamation of terror and amusement, noting, “It’s odd… when you should be terrified and you’re laughing at the same time.”