In his upcoming psychological thriller starring Josh Hartnett, M. Night Shyamalan delved into uncharted visual territory by drawing inspiration from a concert, not just any concert, but one featuring Taylor Swift. In an interview with Empire, Shyamalan shared his unconventional film pitch that posed the question, “What if ‘The Silence of the Lambs’ took place at a Taylor Swift concert?” Despite Swift not being part of the cast, the film, titled “Trap,” is set to premiere on August 2, 2024, and revolves around a concert held to capture a serial killer known as “The Butcher.” The filmmaker revealed that the film was inspired by the 1985 ‘Operation Flagship’ scheme, in which the U.S. Marshals enticed fugitives to attend an NFL game under false pretenses of winning a trip to the Super Bowl, resulting in their arrests.
Describing the scheme as both twisted and humorous, Shyamalan praised the elaborate tactics used by law enforcement during ‘Operation Flagship,’ which involved officers posing as cheerleaders and mascots to apprehend the suspects. Additionally, Shyamalan cast his daughter, Saleka, as the pop star Lady Raven in the film, as she is a talented singer-songwriter in real life. The director emphasized the significance of the concert scenes in the movie, emphasizing that the performances were not merely background elements but integral to the storyline.
“I directed an entire concert! And it wasn’t just a thing in the background. It’s equally important,” Shyamalan explained. “There is no pretend concert going on. I love the concept of cinema as windows within windows, and one of the unique aspects of the film is the real concert that can only be experienced in theaters.” Don’t miss the chance to witness this innovative fusion of music and suspense when “Trap” hits the big screen.