Since its debut on August 2, M. Night Shyamalan’s new thriller, Trap, has had a slow start at the theaters. After four days, the movie is close to hitting a $20 million mark at the US Box Office.
Right now, it has earned $19,348,423 domestically, and the trend suggests it will reach $20 million soon. Globally, the film has made $4.6 million, bringing its total to nearly $24 million.
Horror films haven’t done well this year, but there have been some successes. Recently, Neon’s Longlegs has done well due to clever marketing, still performing well even after being in theaters for nearly a month.
With $83 million earned on a budget under $10 million, Longlegs is the kind of success Trap hopes to emulate. However, August is a tough month for sales, and this year has been especially challenging due to the popularity of movies like Deadpool and Wolverine.
“Trap” Is Not the Greatest Director’s Work
Trap isn’t M. Night Shyamalan’s best work. Known for his mixed reviews, Shyamalan has made great films in the past. Sadly, Trap does not measure up, with a script that makes the mystery feel lacking. The film does have some positive aspects, particularly Josh Hartnett’s performance as Janus Cooper. Ross Bonaime reviewed the movie for Collider, saying:
“There isn’t the building fear or tension that this film needs, and when it does seem close to hitting its potential, Shyamalan gets in his own way. For the man who used to be able to make Samuel L. Jackson or footage of an alien at a child’s birthday party a truly unnerving experience, he now struggles with making a trapped serial killer an intriguing affair.
Trap isn’t Shyamalan’s worst by a longshot, and it certainly has its moments, but seeing those glimpses of the old Shyamalan almost makes things worse. At this point in his career, Shyamalan’s biggest twist is his inability to utilize the tools that once made him such a promising filmmaker.”
Trap is about to pass the $20 million mark at the US Box Office. You can buy tickets to watch the movie in theaters now.
