Trap serves up one killer performance from Josh Hartnett that eclipses all of the film’s shortcomings, that when combined with a good soundtrack of original songs, makes for one entertaining summer thriller that only M. Night Shyamalan could conceive.

Plot twists and M. Night Shyamalan go hand in hand in cinema, ever since he first wowed audiences with thrillers like The Sixth Sense and Signs. His films are often hit or miss, but he has been on a strong streak in recent years with films like Glass, Knock at the Cabin and The Visit. Even if his films aren’t the best at times, he is a name that will get audiences out to the theatre because everyone wants to know what his newest plot twist is. His latest thriller, which is far more grounded that the majority of his films, is a cat and mouse game between a serial killer and the authorities as the killer takes his daughter to a concert. And while you may think that the trailers give away the big twist of Trap, Shyamalan has many more twists up his sleeve and thanks to a truly spectacular performance from Josh Hartnett, Trap becomes one killer thriller to enjoy this summer.

Shyamalan films are made or broken on their premise, and Trap has an intriguing premise. Imagine a law enforcement trap set at a Taylor Swift concert to catch a serial killer, as you see it play out from the killer’s point of view as he tries to evade capture. It has an inherent thrillingness that not even Shyamalan’s signature awkward dialogue can derail. While it may seem like that the reveal in the marketing that Hartnett’s Cooper is the serial killer was a major spoiler, it’s revealed almost instantly within the film, and Shyamalan runs away with the idea from there. His direction captures the concert atmosphere and builds an unsettling environment for the story to unfold in, with some striking moments of cinematography that will get under your skin and truly startling moments of story, reminding you why Shyamalan is one name in cinema that most viewers know. It’s a tense thriller, albeit more straightforward than many of his other films, but Shyamalan’s screenplay keeps moving and adds developments in the story to keep both the audience and Cooper on their toes. The film’s third act goes off the rails as Shyamalan throws an insane number of twists at the audience that make plot holes and gaps in logic evident for the film’s characters, giving a new meaning to the phrase “a Shyamalan plot twist.” But, when these numerous plot twists are thrown at viewers and executed in such a fast paced and wildly entertaining film, it’s more than easy to overlook their absurdity and just go along for the exciting ride that unfolds.

Without hesitation, this film would not be as good as it is without Hartnett’s lead performance as Cooper. Hartnett was a teen heartthrob in the late 90s and early 2000s, but he is experiencing a major resurgence (or Hartnett-aissance as dubbed by the internet) with major films like Oppenheimer, Wrath of Man and Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre, but Trap gives him one of his best leading roles to date. As Cooper, Hartnett captures that awkwardly charming dad vibe as Cooper, bringing to life a clear love for his daughter combined with all those embarrassing moments that parents have. It instantly makes you fall in love with Cooper as a father, but Hartnett transforms into a cold, calculating and sociopathic serial killer within seconds in a single scene. It’s a chilling transformation that happens right in front of your eyes as you watch Hartnett morph his happy go lucky body energy into something deeply sinister as his character tries to make it out of the trap he found himself in, displaying his extreme range as an actor. It’s nothing short of a stellar performance that energizes the entire film, grabs the audience and takes them on one wild ride as you watch with great anticipation to see if Cooper will outsmart the authorities and hide his dark secret from his family, that makes for one of the best performances of Hartnett’s career to date.

While the film is primarily focused on Cooper and leaving the supporting characters with a smaller amount of screentime, especially in the film’s first half, there are some very good performances that help elevate your typical Shyamalan dialogue. The casting of Hayley Mills is truly inspired, as watching the professional hunting down Cooper for his double life having played one of the most iconic double life roles in cinema with The Parent Trap is too perfect. While her role is small, Mills is excellent whenever she is on screen. Alison Pill, despite being absent for the film’s first half, is very strong as Cooper’s wife Rachel, and Ariel Donoghue does a great job capturing the fan girl nature of Riley while developing a sweet father-daughter bond with Hartnett.