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Film Reviews

Trap First Reviews: Josh Hartnett Powers a Surprisingly Straightforward Thriller

Early reviews of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap are divided: Josh Hartnett draws praise, while critics disagree over the thriller’s implausible turns and goofy tone.

By DocumentaryTube Team 2 min read
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Early reviews of M. Night Shyamalan’s Trap are divided, but Josh Hartnett’s committed performance is a frequent point of praise. The thriller’s concert-set premise creates a simple source of tension; whether its unlikely turns and shifts in tone add to the fun or weaken the suspense is where critics part ways.

What is Trap about?

Cooper (Josh Hartnett) takes his daughter Riley (Ariel Donoghue) to a concert by pop performer Lady Raven. Unbeknownst to them—or at least to Riley—a police operation is unfolding to catch a killer believed to be somewhere in the audience. The film builds tension from the contrast between an ordinary father-daughter outing and Cooper’s attempts to navigate the tightening law-enforcement presence.

It is a 2024 thriller directed by M. Night Shyamalan. The British Board of Film Classification lists its runtime as 105 minutes and notes a scene involving repeated tasering. Hulu’s U.S. listing labels it PG-13 and categorizes it as thriller, crime, horror, mystery, and drama; that is a U.S. service listing, not a universal rating.

What do the first reviews say?

Rotten Tomatoes’ first-reviews feature describes the early response as divisive. Time sees an amiable, goofy film with plenty of implausibilities, while The Atlantic points to major plot holes and a comic sensibility that can make the thriller oddly funny. Both reviews also identify Hartnett as a major part of the film’s appeal.

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#1 Best Overall

Rotten Tomatoes’ critics’ consensus sums up the divide this way: “An arch thriller given some grounding by Josh Hartnett’s committed performance, Shyamalan’s Trap will ensnare those who appreciate its tongue-in-cheek style while the rest will be eager to wriggle out from it.” That is the publication’s consensus, not a verdict shared by every critic.

Is Josh Hartnett good in Trap?

Hartnett’s performance is the clearest strength in the early response. Cooper must move between the familiar behavior of a father accompanying his daughter and the film’s darker, more pressured situation. Reviews that find the story implausible still credit Hartnett with helping keep it engaging.

Rank #2
Rabbit Trap
  • Elijah Wood's SpectreVision
  • Fairy Folklore
  • "Particularly Frightening and Very Haunting" - Slashfilm

Time describes the film as “suspended somewhere in the murky middle” and says “at the very least it has an amiable goofiness.” That captures the appeal for viewers who enjoy a heightened, knowingly odd thriller—and the reservation for anyone hoping for airtight realism.

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Is Trap worth watching?

If you are drawn to a high-concept setup and a lead performance that leans into the film’s unusual shifts, Trap may be worth your time. Its central question is less whether every plot turn is plausible than whether the concert operation keeps you tense and Hartnett makes Cooper compelling enough to carry it. Critics split over that balance: the goofiness and implausibility work for some, while the plot holes and tonal turns frustrate others.

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Quick Recap

Bestseller No. 1
Bestseller No. 2
Rabbit Trap
Rabbit Trap
Elijah Wood's SpectreVision; Fairy Folklore; "Particularly Frightening and Very Haunting" - Slashfilm
$11.19
SaleBestseller No. 3
The Love Trap - Blu-ray
The Love Trap - Blu-ray
4K Restoration by Universal Pictures from the 35mm Nitrate Print; From director William Wyler
$14.99
SaleBestseller No. 4
Bestseller No. 5
Maverick (BD)
Maverick (BD)
Maverick [Blu-ray]; PHYSICAL_MOVIE; warner home video
$11.99
Best Value
Maverick (BD)
  • Maverick [Blu-ray]
  • PHYSICAL_MOVIE
  • warner home video
Rank #3
Sale
The Love Trap - Blu-ray
  • 4K Restoration by Universal Pictures from the 35mm Nitrate Print
  • From director William Wyler
  • 1929 black and white comedy classic
  • Starring Laura La Plante, Robert Ellis, and Neil Hamilton
  • Includes Audio Commentary by Professor and Film Scholar Jason A. Ney

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