THERE'S something for everyone at the box office this week. A new thriller from plot twist extraordinaire M. Night Shyamalan leads the way, with book and video game adaptations from the creator of Jane the Virgin and the man behind Cabin Fever not far behind.
Being known for your penchant for pulling the rug feels a double-edged sword in the case of Shyamalan. Sure enough, the Sixth Sense and Split director commands a certain expectation for fans. It’s an anticipation for shocks that is all too easily underwhelmed. To be fair to him, it’s no picnic coming up with these twists.
With Trap, Shyamalan’s latest psychological thriller, another fault of the signature is exposed. When a story is conceived twist first, character, narrative and world-building must jostle for second-place development. It’s not a terrific approach in the art of three-dimensional storytelling.
The film stars Josh Hartnett as Cooper Adams, doting father to Ariel Donoghue’s Riley. While accompanying Riley to a music concert - Shyamalan’s own daughter, and bonafide singer-songwriter, plays the pop star - Cooper becomes aware of an unusually heightened police presence in the arena.
We soon learn that the FBI are aware of a serial killer at the gig - the Butcher - and intend to use its closed quarters to trap and bring him in. Here’s the twist: Cooper is the Butcher.
Except, don’t worry, that’s not really the twist. Stay tuned for the signature rug pull. There’s always a signature rug pull.
Also out this week, Blake Lively leads Justin Baldoni’s adaptation of It Ends With Us, taken from the best-selling book by Colleen Hoover. A thriller in its own normcore way, the film boasts all of the feels and demands all of the hankies.
Navigating difficult themes, Lively plays florist Lily Bloom. When a tall, dark stranger enters her life, in the form of Baldoni’s Ryle Kincaid, Lily is swept away. All too soon, however, Ryle reveals himself to be more Wickham than Darcy.
Finally, Borderlands. It’s a rare video game that successfully makes the leap to blockbuster success but packing your effort with A-list talents should at least guarantee a few bums on seats.
This one stars Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jack Black and Jamie Lee Curtis. It’s a sci-fi space Western in which unlikely heroes must battle alien monster bandits. See, something for everyone.
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