The Most Annoying Plot Holes in Trap

M. Night Shyamalan‘s latest psychological thriller has people talking, but perhaps not in the way he intended. The filmmaker is known for bringing the world films with peculiar plots and twists that many never see coming. Trap (2024) doesn’t have a super bizarre plot. It follows a man and father named Cooper (played by Josh Hartnett) who accompanies his daughter to a concert by pop superstar Lady Raven (played by Shyamalan’s daughter Saleka).

The catch? There’s a strong police presence outside and within the venue, and it’s making Cooper particularly nervous. There’s a serial killer who goes by the name ‘The Butcher’ on the loose and the FBI has good reason to believe they’ll be at the concert. What follows is a somewhat meandering plot that leaves viewers with more questions than answers.

A common theme among the mixed reception of the film is questioning how/why certain events transpired. Spoilers ahead, you’ve been warned, because we’re diving into some of Trap‘s biggest plot holes.

5 Cooper Keeps Drawing Suspicion to Himself

Though the trailers left it somewhat ambiguous, pretty early on it’s revealed that Cooper is The Butcher. He pulls out his phone where he has a live feed of his latest victim trapped in a basement. Even with the later reveal about who set up this “trap” for Cooper, it still doesn’t explain why Cooper decides to stick around at the concert. Sure, he gets a thrill from outsmarting the police, but it seems like an unnecessary risk.

He Just Can’t Help Himself

An even more egregious plot hole, however, is how suspicious Cooper made himself. If he didn’t want to leave his daughter Riley at the concert, all he had to do was… stay put and enjoy the concert. There would be no movie if Cooper spent the show simply bopping along to the music.

Instead, Cooper puts himself in the line of fire, drawing suspicion from his daughter and placing him closer to the authorities. Could he have been agitated and acting irrationally? Perhaps. But with how cool and calculated he appeared otherwise, this seems like a contradiction.

4 The Most Inattentive Officers Ever

With Cooper practically shouting, “Look at me!” with his behavior and the heavy police presence, viewers would think officers would be drawn to him. Nope. This made the armed officers surrounding the building feel like less of a threat. Cooper left his seat multiple times and wandered around areas where chaos soon followed, and no one was the wiser.

One of the most forehead-slapping moments came when Cooper walked in on an FBI briefing, stared at them in the middle of the floor, and not one officer turned to glance at him.

Plot Convenience Galore

He pretended he was an employee soon after, but would the FBI even want an average employee to hear their plan? An explosion happens in a kitchen and he goes to the roof to escape the mayhem. Guards were also there, but he gave them a password he pried from another worker, and no other questions were asked.

These moments were meant to make Cooper look smart and tactical, but for most viewers, they seemed like cop-outs. How did Cooper’s plans turn out so well? Because the plot needed them to.

3 No One Seems to Worry About Anything

Several of the biggest plot holes in Trap build off each other. Riley asked a few questions and noted that Cooper’s behavior was off. Even a teenager preoccupied by seeing her favorite singer surely would’ve been worried. From what we know, Riley never messaged her mom that her dad was being strange. (Which brings up another question about why the mom, who was revealed to be the whistleblower, would be okay sending her daughter into the lion’s den).

Everybody Loves Cooper, Apparently

The police didn’t ask questions of Cooper at all, and other characters bought whatever Cooper sold to them without any inquiry. A vendor at the concert, Jamie, is the most glaring example. He provided lots of humor to the narrative, but while he was enjoyable to see on screen, his lack of suspicion is hard to believe.

Yes, Hartnett’s portrayal of the charismatic Cooper was great. But with how easily he was able to get behind the curtain via Jamie, it’s a wonder this vendor hasn’t helped out a host of criminals.

2 Involvement of Lady Raven (and Lack of Involvement From Her Security)

Lady Raven’s character has garnered many criticisms from moviegoers, with many claiming this was purely nepo baby casting. The shots of Lady Raven in action on stage were quite good, though at times it felt like a concert film rather than a thriller.

The film took a noticeable turn once Cooper and Riley went backstage to meet the superstar. Cooper pulled Lady Raven aside to chat. That’s a plot hole right there. Taking her aside a few feet down the hall? We could believe that. But would any of her massive team of handlers and guards be okay with an adult fan closing himself in a room with the star? Unlikely.

A-List Star, D-List Security

Cooper blackmails Raven to help get out of the venue. He says if she doesn’t comply, he’ll kill his current victim. But he needs to use his phone to do so and when they’re walking down the hall surrounded by guards, Cooper’s phone is in his pocket. Why couldn’t Lady Raven shout to arrest him before he could get his hands on the device?

Later, when they detour to Cooper and Riley’s home, why weren’t any of her handlers accompanying her? From how big of a star the film portrayed Lady Raven as being, this seems like a huge oversight.

1 The Arrest Scene

Opinions are split on whether Shyamalan choosing to leave the concert venue was good or bad for the film’s third act. Lady Raven ends up contacting the police and a cat-and-mouse chase ensues. Cooper escapes from right under the cops’ noses several times. Implausible, but for the most part fun.

His wife Rachel is at home alone when she’s surprised by Cooper. It’s revealed how and why Rachel suspected him and set up this trap, and we see Cooper’s past trauma that may have led him to this life.

Just Hand Him the Keys

Eventually, he’s caught, though he doesn’t go down without a fight. Despite being tased, he displays superhuman strength and tries to gauge out an officer’s eyes. Once subdued, he’s led away in handcuffs around his wrists and ankles. Throughout the film, Cooper is shown to be stealthy and crafty.

So, of course, it makes sense to let him, for no reason, stop to embrace a bicycle for several long moments. It’s so obvious to viewers (and thus should be even more obvious to the highly skilled agents) that he took something from the bike to aid in his next escape. Again, this is less of a moment displaying Cooper’s talents and rather highlights the film’s inconsistencies.