Trap (2024)

Last updated:
August 31, 2025

Table of Contents

Detailed Summary

Arrival at the Concert—Expectations vs. Reality

Cooper Abbott, a seemingly devoted Philadelphia firefighter, takes his teenage daughter, Riley, to a pop concert by Lady Raven as a reward for her good grades. But the night rapidly devolves from father-daughter bonding to a high-stakes psychological thriller when Cooper realizes the event isn’t a celebration—it’s a trap. The FBI suspects him of being the serial killer known as The Butcher.

The Reveal: Cooper Is The Butcher

We quickly learn that Cooper is The Butcher; he sneaks a look at his captive, Spencer, trapped in a basement. Cooper steals an ID card from a vendor named Jamie, gains restricted access, and listens in on police chatter via a stolen radio.

Escalation: Explosions and Music Stage Chaos

Cooper triggers an explosion in a concession stand to cause chaos and make his move. He escapes to the roof and overhears FBI profiler Dr. Josephine Grant is leading the manhunt. Riley’s excitement peaks—she hopes to become Lady Raven’s “Dreamer Girl” and get backstage access.

Confrontation Backstage and Flight

Cooper ambushes Lady Raven backstage, revealing his identity and blackmailing her: escort him and Riley out of the arena, or Spencer dies from carbon monoxide poisoning. He manipulates her with this cruel threat.

Betrayal and Subversion

Lady Raven tricks Cooper—she invites herself to his home, surreptitiously takes his phone, and goes live on social media to call for help. Spencer is located alive, drawing police closer to Cooper’s location.

Home Infiltration, Secret Tunnel, and Disguise

Police descend on Cooper’s home. In desperation, he kidnaps Lady Raven into his SUV, but Rachel (his wife), Riley, and son block their escape. Cooper retreats and escapes through a hidden tunnel in the house. He dons a SWAT uniform, commandeers Lady Raven’s limo, and flees.

Rachel’s Reveal: The Setup

Back home later, Cooper confronts his wife, Rachel, who confesses she suspected his identity as The Butcher. She staged the police trap by planting evidence and tipping off the authorities. Cooper, enraged and suicidal, is pacified into sharing a piece of pie meant for Riley—because wasting food triggers his obsessive-compulsive tendencies. Rachel slipped drugs into the pie.

Hallucination, Arrest, and Final Escape Hint

Cooper hallucinates his abusive mother—in reality, it’s Dr. Grant coaxing him. As he moves toward her, SWAT tasers him and arrests follow. On the lawn, Cooper adjusts Riley’s bicycle, grabs a spoke, and hides it. In the police van, he uses the spoke to pick his cuffs and gives a creepy grin, hinting at an escape.

Movie Ending

In the final sequence, Cooper faces his inevitable capture—only to use cunning and psychological manipulation until the very end. In the most chilling moment, his wife’s mixture of cunning and compassion disarms him literally and figuratively. Despite being arrested, his unnoticed acquisition of the bike spoke and the grin he gives as the van pulls away leaves us with the unsettling thought: The Butcher may not be done yet.

This open-ended conclusion respects the suspense genre and suggests the possibility of sequel territory.

Are There Post-Credits Scenes?

Yes. In the mid-credits scene, Jamie—the vendor who unknowingly aided Cooper—sees the news report revealing Cooper’s identity. He reacts with shock and resolves to never speak to anyone at work again.

Type of Movie

Trap is a psychological thriller (with crime elements) rooted in suspense, tension, and Oedipal undertones. It’s a cat-and-mouse chase warped through the eyes of a serial killer—and told from a disturbingly normal perspective.

Cast

Josh Hartnett – Cooper (The Butcher)
Ariel Donoghue – Riley (his daughter)
Saleka Night Shyamalan – Lady Raven (pop star)
Hayley Mills – Dr. Josephine Grant (FBI profiler)
Alison Pill – Rachel (Cooper’s wife)

Film Music and Composer

The soundtrack features Saleka’s own album (Lady Raven), which doubles as the film’s original music, performing 14 songs diegetically during the concert scenes. It includes collaborations with Kid Cudi, Russ, and Amaarae. Composer for the score is Herdís Stefánsdóttir.

Filming Locations

FirstOntario Centre, Hamilton, Ontario – used for the concert arena (Tanaka Arena)
Rogers Centre, Toronto – stood in as exterior shots for the venue
Filming took place in Canada in late 2023 during SAG-AFTRA strike allowances.

Awards and Nominations

No information suggests significant awards or nominations for Trap, implying it likely missed major recognition.

Behind the Scenes Insights

The film’s premise—a concert used as a sting operation—was inspired by Operation Flagship (1985), a real-life federal sting targeting fugitives.
Shyamalan originally conceived the idea around his daughter, Saleka’s music and performance, merging a narrative album with visual storytelling.
Filming continued during the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike thanks to an interim agreement in Toronto.

Inspirations and References

Operation Flagship, the U.S. Marshal sting operation, directly influenced the film’s central plot.
The concept harkens to an original idea blending a concert-movie format like Purple Rain with thriller elements.

Alternate Endings and Deleted Scenes

No publicly available information on alternate endings or deleted scenes beyond the mid-credits addition, which apparently was added last-minute and not in the original script.

Book Adaptations and Differences

Not based on a book—an original screenplay by M. Night Shyamalan.

Memorable Scenes and Quotes

Key Scenes

Cooper’s chilling conversation with Lady Raven in her dressing room, backed by his blackmail.
The home confrontation where Rachel reveals her betrayal.
Cooper’s arrest sequence, complete with hallucination tactics and a tased surrender—but not before his final mischievous act with the bike spoke.

Iconic Quotes

(Exact quotes aren’t widely documented, but these encapsulate hitting moments and tone:)

Cooper to Lady Raven: “Escorts us out—or you kill the man in the basement.”
Rachel to Cooper: “We’ll at least finish Riley’s pie.” (Turning point of deception.)
Final moment: Cooper’s grin and triumphant gesture in the van speak volumes: he may yet escape.

Easter Eggs and Hidden Detail

Cooper’s shirt-folding scene reflects his OCD and obsessive need for order even amid chaos.
Hallucinations of his mother symbolize his internal drive, which Dr. Grant manipulates at the end.
The concealed tunnel in the house is a literal and metaphorical hideaway, signifying hidden depths in Cooper’s life.

Trivia (Bulleted)

The film grossed around $83 million worldwide on a $30 million budget.
Mixed critical reception: critics called it implausible but praised Hartnett’s committed performance and tongue-in-cheek vibe.

Why Watch?

It’s a thriller with attitude. Imagine Hitchcock meets concert film, through the mind of a calculating killer. If you enjoy darkly playful suspense, moral questions, and a tale told from the other side of the bullet, this ride is for you. Hartnett plays charming and sinister with equal flair—and that ending will stick with you.

Trap (2024)

Detailed Summary