M. Night Shyamalan’s most irritating filmmaking habits are in full effect with his new movie "Trap," a psychological thriller that initially seems like it might be interesting, but ultimately falls apart due to ridiculous plot developments. This isn't one of Shyamalan’s better works; the film meanders and stumbles toward an unbelievable and absurd revelation—so silly that it’s impossible to accept what’s happening on screen. The story centers on Cooper (Josh Hartnett), a regular dad, who takes his teenage daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to see Lady Raven, a very popular musical act. Cooper bought expensive floor tickets to please his daughter. Everything seems okay at first, but then it's revealed that Cooper is actually a serial killer known as Butcher. It turns out the police have created an elaborate setup around the concert with the goal of catching him, and he has no apparent way to escape. Forced to rely on his intelligence to avoid capture, Cooper comes up with several clever distractions to keep his dark secret hidden from the FBI agent and criminal profiler (Hayley Mills) in charge. The first portion of the film is watchable enough, creating a tense atmosphere and suggesting a plot that could have some depth. It’s engaging to see how Cooper thinks, and it's unsettling when you realize you're hoping a serial killer will get away. This part works reasonably well and represents the strongest aspect of the movie. However, the second half completely unravels. The narrative becomes increasingly tangled and absurd, introducing a series of ridiculous twists that destroy any sense of logic. Even for Shyamalan, this is problematic. Hartnett delivers a strong performance and has to portray two different characters. He’s convincing as the easygoing dad, but then quickly shifts into a dark psychopath. He's easily the best thing about the film. However, while Hartnett’s acting is enjoyable, one of the movie’s biggest weaknesses is Saleka Shyamalan’s performance. It feels awkward to criticize her because she's the director’s daughter, but the appearance of favoritism is obvious here. She isn’t a good actress; she’s an average singer and songwriter (several of her original songs are featured throughout the film), and it seems like the movie was made primarily to promote M. Night’s child while trying to launch her career. Her acting feels unconvincing compared to Hartnett's believability. With a forced and nonsensical plot, weak performances, and an illogical twist that will leave you feeling more annoyed than entertained, “Trap” is another disappointing film from a director who has the potential to do much better.

Source on TMDB